📋 Tender Overview
The second most abundant element on earth, found in clay, granite, quartz and sand – in the form of dioxide –, silicon is another strategic mineral for Brazil. Used in the production of metallic alloys, in the ceramics industry and in the electronics industry, silicon is a non-ferrous semimetal and is also a protagonist in the construction of solar panels.
Silicon, or silica, found in almost pure form is known as quartz or crystal. In Brazil, the mineral is found mainly in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina. In 2022, Brazil produced 400 thousand tons of silicon alloys and products, according to data from the Metallurgical Sector Statistical Yearbook, developed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).
Silicon is a semiconductor material, meaning it can be used as an electrical conductor or insulator. This characteristic makes it an important mineral for the production of transistors for chips, solar cells and various models of electronic circuits. As it is the raw material for photovoltaic cells in solar panels, it is a fundamental element for the energy transition.
Furthermore, silicon is the main element of glass, ceramics and cement. The element is also one of the components of silicone, an important material in the construction and automotive industries.
