A technical expertise of the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) confirmed the complaints made by the indigenous Anace people with civil society organizations: the environmental licensing of the mega data center of TikTok, in Caucaia (CE), is technically inadequate, insufficient and unacceptable.
The report, prepared by the National Center of Expertise of MPF, concludes that the project IO com installed capacity of up to 300 MW, Higher energy consumption than 99% of brazilian cities, and daily use of about 88 thousand liters of water — it could not have been licensed through Simplified Environmental Reporting (RAS). According to the expertise, the magnitude of the project requires Environmental Impact Study and Report (EIA/Rima), public hearings and broad social participation.
The expertise was determined in the context of representations presented to the Federal Public Ministry, including a previous initiative already in the files and, subsequently, the demonstration presented by leaders of the indigenous people Anace, with the organizations Institute of Consumer Protection (Idec), Terramar Institute, Laboratory of Public Policies and Internet (Lapin), Human Rights Office and Popular Legal Advice Frei Tito de Alencar and Research Institute in Law and Technology of Recife (IP.rec), which alerted the MPF to the socio-environmental, energy, water and territorial risks of the enterprise, in addition to the irregularities in the licensing process Noace.
Among the flaws pointed out by the expert are the lack of proof of the water viability of the project, the improper fractionation of the environmental licensing process and omission of cumulative and synergistic impacts of the associated structures, such as the 230 kV transmission line, the electrical substation, diesel generators and their fuel storage systems, the cooling system and the sewage treatment plant.The report further states that the license was granted no water use grant, in defiance of the constitutional principles of environmental prevention and precaution, as well as the duty to protect the environment adequately.
These failures, according to the MPF itself, not only affect the territories directly impacted, but also generate losses to the Brazilian consumer, by aggravating water scarcity, intensifying climate vulnerability and pressuring essential systems such as water and energy. In a scenario of water fragility in the region, the installation of a highly intensive venture in natural resources, without adequate technical studies, can increase risks of food insecurity, increase essential services and deepen inequalities in access to basic goods.
For the Anace people, the process reveals a historical logic of imposing large projects on their territories. “Once again, they try to decide on our land without listening to us. The report shows that the licensing is flawed, but the error begins earlier: no one asked our people if this project could exist here”, says Chief Roberto Itaicaba, leadership of the Anace people of Japuara.
The organizations state that, although the report clearly points out the problems in environmental licensing, it no longer addresses a central flaw: the lack of consultation with indigenous and traditional communities in the region. The current project provides only community meetings after the issuance of the license, when the works are in progress, completely emptying the right to consultation.
The report itself admits that this point was out of the analysis, because it was assigned to the National Expertise Advisory in Anthropology (ANPA). This, however, does not reduce the severity of the problem 'On the contrary, it shows that the licensing has advanced without respecting a basic right of these communities. The Federal Public Ministry reinforces this understanding by defending the annulment of the license and the realization of the consultation to the indigenous people Anace before any progress of the project.
In summary, the expertise dismantles the narrative that this is a simple or low-impact enterprise. Now, it is up to public agencies to act to suspend this licensing and prevent the expansion of digital infrastructure in Brazil from advancing at the expense of rights, water and energy of communities.
