Romania holds 16 of the 32 critical raw materials designated at EU level and ranks first in the bloc in terms of subsoil resources for rare earths and strategic minerals, Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan has said.
Speaking to local media, Ivan stated that Romania possesses half of the critical elements Europe considers essential, with some found only in Romania and at most one other EU member state. The minister argued that this positions the country as a key pillar of Europe’s resource security strategy.
Romania is already working with what Ivan described as an “extremely important” American company in efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese critical minerals. According to local reports, this partner is likely Critical Metals Corp, which has links to investor Frank Timiș.
Ivan acknowledged, however, that Romania currently lacks an integrated processing and refining chain for these materials. Developing such infrastructure would, he said, create the first fully integrated rare earth processing chain in the western hemisphere, potentially supplying strategic industries including aerospace and advanced technology manufacturers such as SpaceX.
Discussions are also reportedly under way regarding cooperation between Critical Metals Corp and Nuclearelectrica (BVB: SNN). The proposal involves transforming the uranium processing facility at Feldioara into a plant capable of refining rare earth elements sourced from Greenland.
In parallel, Ivan highlighted three Romanian projects included under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, with a combined value of around EUR 615 million. According to European Commission data, these projects are being developed by Euro Sun Mining (copper), Salrom (graphite), and Verde Magnesium (magnesium). One of the projects, Euro Sun Mining’s copper development, currently lacks a valid environmental permit.
The minister’s remarks come as the European Union intensifies efforts to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on external suppliers amid geopolitical tensions and rising demand from the energy transition and defense sectors.
