MINEX Forum

Tag: Critical Raw Materials Act

  • Boliden CEO Says EU Is a Decade Late on Rare Earths as Brussels Fast-Tracks €3 Billion Plan

    Boliden CEO Says EU Is a Decade Late on Rare Earths as Brussels Fast-Tracks €3 Billion Plan

    The head of Swedish mining group Boliden has warned that the European Union should have acted ten years ago to secure its access to rare earths, calling the bloc’s new €3-billion initiative a welcome but insufficient step given China’s dominance of the sector.

    The remarks follow the European Commission’s announcement that it will fast-track funding into 25 key mineral projects, part of a broader push to reduce dependence on Beijing, which processes more than 90% of the world’s rare earths. China has tightened export restrictions this year, further underscoring Europe’s vulnerability.

    Speaking to Reuters, Boliden CEO Mikael Staffas said Europe’s lack of self-sufficiency in critical raw materials has become a structural weakness and warned that progress will remain slow without sustained, decisive action.

    “The Critical Raw Materials Act was a small step,” he said. “The EU will need many more small steps if they want greater independence.” Staffas described the Commission’s latest effort as a sign of political intent, but stressed that “a lot more needs to be done.”

    Europe’s largest copper producer, Aurubis, echoed a similar sentiment this week, saying the CRMA has so far delivered little visible impact despite expectations of long-term benefits.

    Boliden Sees Little Benefit in New Rare Earths Push
    Although Boliden produces minerals on the EU’s priority list — including copper and nickel — none of its current projects fall within the rare-earth-heavy focus of the new initiative.

    “Everyone is talking about rare earths being super critical, and we do not have any projects there,” Staffas said. He added that even the full €3-billion package would amount to only two years of Boliden’s standard investment levels. The company forecast SEK 15 billion ($1.6 billion) in capital spending for 2026.

    Boliden’s Somincor mine extension in Portugal remains listed under the original CRMA strategic project roster, but none of its developments qualify under the new rare earths programme.

    Staffas’s comments underline a core challenge for the EU: while the bloc aims to diversify supply chains quickly, rare earth extraction and processing remain highly concentrated in China, and Europe’s existing mining pipeline is only partially aligned with the areas Brussels is prioritising.

  • EU Criticised for Backing Portugal’s Barroso Lithium Mine Despite “Grave Environmental and Safety Risks”

    EU Criticised for Backing Portugal’s Barroso Lithium Mine Despite “Grave Environmental and Safety Risks”

    Environmental lawyers and community groups have sharply condemned the European Commission for refusing to remove the controversial Barroso lithium mine in northern Portugal from its list of strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). The mine, located in Boticas, has become a flashpoint in national and international debates over the social and environmental costs of Europe’s push for domestic critical minerals.

    The Commission on Thursday rejected a joint request by Associação Unidos em Defesa de Covas do Barroso (UDCB), MiningWatch Portugal and ClientEarth to revoke the mine’s strategic designation. Critics argue that the label sidesteps mounting evidence that the project poses severe environmental, safety and social risks — and provides political cover for fast-tracking a project that local communities have opposed for nearly eight years.

    According to NGOs, the Commission largely dismissed concerns related to water scarcity, biodiversity loss and tailings safety, insisting these fall under Portuguese national responsibility. In a statement, the Commission stressed that its role under the CRMA “does not include verifying full compliance with EU environmental law,” prompting accusations that the Act is being used to override normal scrutiny through a “legal presumption” that the mine serves the public interest.

    ClientEarth lawyer Ilze Tralmaka warned that the CRMA should not be used to accelerate projects “that science shows are unsafe, environmentally destructive and unnecessary,” stressing that the green transition “cannot come at the cost of community safety.” She added that independent evidence suggests lithium demand should be reduced wherever possible, with a stronger emphasis on recycling to limit new mining.

    NGOs cite expert studies showing that Barroso’s waste storage and water management systems could fail during heavy rainfall, potentially contaminating farmland, local water sources and even affecting the Douro Valley’s world-famous Port wine region downstream. Another analysis highlighted major flaws in the project’s air-quality assessment.

    MiningWatch Portugal’s Nik Völker said the Commission’s decision “shows that the EU is willing to trade rural lives and irreplaceable landscapes for a political headline,” adding that calling the mine “strategic” does not make it safe or sustainable. “The Mina do Barroso offers minimal benefits and enormous risks: a textbook example of how not to do a green transition,” he said.

    Local opposition to the mine has been exceptionally strong, with farmers and residents warning the project threatens their land, water and livelihoods. Their activism has gained global attention, including a Cannes-premiered documentary about the community’s efforts to resist the development.

    Aida Fernandes of UDCB said the mine’s approval prioritises Europe’s interests at the expense of the people who live in Covas do Barroso. “Our springs, our soil and our farms are what keeps this community alive. Once they are gone, they are gone forever,” she said. “Europe cannot build a green future by destroying the places that are already living sustainably.”

    NGOs caution that while securing critical mineral supplies is a legitimate objective, the CRMA and the strategic project label are being misused to gain access to financing and expedited permitting for projects with major unanswered environmental and social questions.

  • Vulcan Energy Secures Approval to Build Commercial Lithium Extraction Plant in Germany

    Vulcan Energy Secures Approval to Build Commercial Lithium Extraction Plant in Germany

    Vulcan Energy Resources, the German-Australian company pioneering geothermal lithium production in Europe, has received construction approval for its commercial Lithium Extraction Plant (LEP) in Landau, Germany, marking a key milestone toward establishing Europe’s first carbon-neutral lithium supply chain.

    The City of Landau granted the permit for the facility in the D12 industrial zone, complementing previously approved construction permits for the site’s ORC geothermal power plant and 110/20 kV substation. According to Vulcan, it now holds all necessary permits to construct its combined geothermal and lithium extraction plant (G-LEP) in Landau.

    In the project’s first phase, Vulcan plans to produce several thousand tonnes of lithium chloride, which will be transported to Frankfurt-Höchst for further conversion into battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM). Once fully operational, annual production is expected to reach 24,000 tonnes of LHM — enough to supply approximately 500,000 electric vehicles per year.

    The company’s lithium extraction process uses geothermal brine from the Upper Rhine Valley, home to Europe’s largest combined geothermal and lithium resource. Vulcan’s technology captures geothermal heat for district heating and renewable electricity generation, while extracting lithium chloride from cooled brine before reinjecting it underground. The company notes that the entire operation will be “carbon neutral and fossil fuel-free over its life cycle.”

    Vulcan has already tested the process at pilot scale in Landau and Höchst. In April 2024, the company’s Lithium Extraction Optimisation Plant (LEOP) successfully produced the first lithium chloride from geothermal brine, later refined into battery-grade lithium hydroxide at the Central Lithium Electrolysis Optimisation Plant (CLEOP) in Höchst.

    The upcoming commercial-scale LEP will be built later this year, contingent on the completion of the €690 million financing package for both Landau and Höchst facilities. The German federal government and the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse have pledged €103.6 million in funding through the EU’s Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF) under the “Resilience and Sustainability of the Battery Cell Manufacturing Ecosystem” program.

    In March 2025, the European Union designated Vulcan’s Landau facility as one of 47 strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).

    To secure final financing, Vulcan is leveraging offtake agreements with several major customers. Its latest supply deal, signed with Glencore, covers 36,000–44,000 tonnes of LHM over eight years. The company has also revised earlier agreements with Umicore (23,000 tonnes over six years), LG Energy Solution (31,000 tonnes over six years), and Stellantis (128,000 tonnes over ten years).

    While construction will begin soon, deliveries are now expected later than initially planned. Once operational, Vulcan’s German facilities will play a central role in Europe’s battery supply chain, reducing dependence on imported lithium and advancing the EU’s green industrial strategy.

  • EU Launches Second Call for Strategic Raw Materials Projects Under CRMA

    EU Launches Second Call for Strategic Raw Materials Projects Under CRMA

    The European Commission has announced the launch of its second call for strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), aimed at securing a sustainable and resilient supply of critical raw materials essential for Europe’s green and digital transitions.

    Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, made the announcement today in Kiruna, Sweden. Building on the success of the first call, which selected 60 projects, the new call invites promoters to submit proposals before the cut-off date of 15 January 2026 at 12:00 CET. An online information session will take place on 9 October to guide interested applicants.

    To qualify, projects must meaningfully enhance the EU’s supply security, demonstrate technical feasibility, and ensure sustainable implementation. Selected projects will benefit from fast-tracked permitting, improved access to financing, and facilitated offtake agreements.

    “These projects show how the EU can boost domestic extraction, refining, processing, and recycling, while deepening partnerships with third countries,” Séjourné said. “This is another key step towards European sovereignty by reducing dependencies and strengthening our economic security.”

    The call covers all 17 critical raw materials designated as strategic under the CRMA, including lithium, rare earth elements, cobalt, nickel, and tungsten. The initiative underscores the EU’s commitment to diversifying supply chains and reducing reliance on dominant global suppliers.

  • Chvaletice Manganese Project Highlights EU’s Critical Minerals Delivery Gap in Central Europe

    Chvaletice Manganese Project Highlights EU’s Critical Minerals Delivery Gap in Central Europe

    In the quiet industrial belt east of Prague, the Chvaletice Manganese Project is being touted as Europe’s best chance to secure a domestic source of high-purity manganese for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Led by Canada-listed Euro Manganese, the project would extract 50,000 tonnes of battery-grade manganese sulphate per year from decades-old tailings — without opening a new mine.

    Endorsed by the European Commission under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and backed by the European Investment Bank and EIT InnoEnergy, Chvaletice is the only Czech project on the EU’s Strategic Projects list. Yet despite feasibility studies and EU support, construction has not begun. Final environmental permits and grid access approvals are still pending.

    The CRMA, which came into force in May 2024, promises 27-month fast-track permitting for Strategic Projects. But in Czechia — as in Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary — this has not yet been transposed into national law, leaving projects like Chvaletice in limbo.

    Across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), multiple projects have been named under the CRMA, from Poland’s lithium and rare earth ventures to Slovakia’s proposed Magnon Green Energy separation plant near Nitra. None have yet reached financing or construction. A Penta Group analysis warns of “technical, financial, social, and geopolitical” barriers delaying progress.

    The funding gap is also stark. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates the EU spends just 0.05% of GDP on critical raw materials — far less than the US (0.2%) or Australia (0.39%). In CEE, governments have prioritized downstream EV battery plants, while upstream mining and processing projects receive little public funding.

    China’s dominance in CRM processing compounds the risk. The country controls over 80% of rare earth refining and nearly all natural graphite processing. In July, Beijing tightened export controls further, adding gallium, antimony, and manganese to its restricted list.

    Industry leaders warn that unless Europe accelerates CRM development, it will remain strategically vulnerable. “The EU may as well be a province of China,” AMG Lithium CEO Stefan Scherer recently remarked, urging a “continental-scale investment surge.”

    For now, Chvaletice stands as CEE’s flagship. But with the EC due to revise its Strategic Projects list in early 2026, its future hinges on whether Czech authorities can align laws and issue permits in time. “Brussels has recognised the urgency,” Euro Manganese CEO Matthew James said. “But unless national systems accelerate, these projects will miss the transition window.”

  • EU Commission Faces Criticism Over Secrecy in Critical Mining Approvals

    EU Commission Faces Criticism Over Secrecy in Critical Mining Approvals

    Four Members of the European Parliament from the Green/EFA group have accused the European Commission of bypassing transparency in its fast-track process for approving strategic critical raw material (CRM) mining projects. The MEPs say the Commission has refused to disclose impact assessments, kept expert identities confidential, and withheld the exact locations of several major projects—even those granted strategic status under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).

    Despite multiple formal requests, the MEPs received only publicly available summaries, without access to details about projects such as Mina Doade in Spain, Barroso in Portugal, Sakatti in Finland, a lithium facility in France, and major overseas initiatives in Serbia and New Caledonia. A letter demanding transparency was sent to the Commission in May, followed by what the MEPs describe as a vague and insufficient reply.

    The European Commission has defended its actions, citing Article 46 of the CRMA, which permits the withholding of trade secrets and private information related to external experts. However, critics argue that this undermines the democratic oversight process and turns the CRM Board—tasked with overseeing implementation—into a powerless body.

    Across Europe, opposition to mining projects is intensifying. In France and Finland, local communities are pushing back against operations near protected areas, such as Natura 2000 sites. In Serbia, protests continue against the controversial Jadar lithium project. Environmental groups warn that accelerating mining approvals without reducing material demand or securing public consent risks serious ecological and social consequences.

    While the EU intensifies efforts to secure domestic sources of lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, concerns are growing that the drive for speed and supply security is coming at the cost of transparency and public trust.

  • Rovina Valley Project: Europe’s Second-Largest Gold-Copper Mine Moves Toward Construction

    Rovina Valley Project: Europe’s Second-Largest Gold-Copper Mine Moves Toward Construction

    Romania’s Rovina Valley Project — one of Europe’s largest gold-copper developments — is advancing steadily toward construction, with a final Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submission expected in the coming months. The project, operated by Toronto-listed Euro Sun Mining, is strategically located in the country’s historic mining region and holds an estimated 10.4 million gold-equivalent ounces.

    CEO Grant Sabor described the deposit as “one big block of uniform copper and gold,” making it exceptionally predictable and operationally low-risk. The site’s porphyry-style mineralization supports long-term, stable production.

    The project is also a pillar of the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), having received strategic designation that streamlines permitting timelines and places it within Europe’s priority infrastructure. The CRMA aims to reduce the bloc’s reliance on foreign imports by supporting domestic mining initiatives with clear regulatory paths.

    A major financial breakthrough was secured through a $200 million facility agreement with global commodity trader Trafigura. The partnership also includes plans for an additional $200 million in debt financing, supporting full-scale development. Sabor emphasized the deal’s non-dilutive structure and strategic value beyond capital.

    Operational milestones in the next 12 months include finalizing government approvals, acquiring remaining land, and preparing for construction. Once fully permitted, Rovina Valley is expected to become the largest mine development in Romania in over 40 years.

    Despite previous permitting delays and financing difficulties, the project is poised to deliver hundreds of local jobs, bolster Romania’s fiscal position, and contribute significantly to European mineral supply security.

  • NGOs Challenge EU Backing of Controversial Lithium Mine in Portugal

    NGOs Challenge EU Backing of Controversial Lithium Mine in Portugal

    Three NGOs have formally challenged the European Commission’s decision to grant ‘strategic project’ status to the Covas do Barroso lithium mine in northern Portugal — a move they say threatens both the environment and the cultural fabric of the local community.

    MiningWatch Portugal, ClientEarth, and Unidos em Defesa de Covas do Barroso filed the complaint on grounds that the project, fast-tracked under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), poses serious environmental and social risks that were not adequately assessed. They argue that preferential permitting and financing for the mine were granted without proper scrutiny.

    “The green transition must not be built on environmental harm and social injustice,” said Ilze Tralmaka, a lawyer with ClientEarth. “This mine threatens a fragile ecosystem and a community that has consistently opposed it.”

    Critics cite unsafe tailings storage, unviable water sources, and potential contamination of the Douro River system as key concerns. Additionally, locals argue the project jeopardizes traditional farming practices and rural livelihoods in the Barroso region — a designated Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).

    NGOs also question the economic feasibility of the mine. With global lithium prices plummeting and multiple higher-grade spodumene projects in Australia shutting down, they argue that the Covas do Barroso project lacks financial justification. “This sets a dangerous precedent,” warns Nik Völker of MiningWatch Portugal. “It turns European peripheries into sacrifice zones.”

    The mine is being advanced by Savannah Resources, which must still pass regulatory and financing hurdles, and present a definitive feasibility study before construction — currently projected for 2026 or 2027.

    Local activist Catarina Alves highlights what’s at stake: “People here rely on clean water for drinking, farming, and livestock. If that’s lost, our way of life is gone. For what? A few years of lithium and a new kind of pollution?”

    The NGOs are calling for a rigorous, evidence-based reassessment of the project’s status. If their request is rejected or unresolved after up to 22 weeks, they plan to take the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

  • Kazakhstan’s Sarytogan Graphite Deposit Joins EU Strategic Project List

    Kazakhstan’s Sarytogan Graphite Deposit Joins EU Strategic Project List

    The Sarytogan graphite deposit in Kazakhstan’s Karaganda region has officially been added to the European Union’s list of strategic raw material projects, a move announced during the Astana Mining & Metallurgy (AMM) 2025 Congress in Astana.

    Preliminary assessments suggest that the Sarytogan site contains approximately 30% of the world’s known graphite reserves, making it one of the largest and cleanest surface-accessible graphite deposits globally. The project is seen as critical for securing the EU’s supply of materials vital to green technologies, particularly lithium-ion battery production.

    According to Galymzhan Torebek, Deputy Chair of the Committee for Industry under Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Construction, the graphite mining project will be developed in four stages, with capital expenditures estimated between $62 million and $344 million.

    The project’s new strategic status under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) means that the European Commission will now actively support the development by helping to attract investment and facilitate long-term supply agreements with European companies.

    At the AMM 2025 award ceremony, officials outlined plans for institutional and financial backing for the Sarytogan project, aiming to ensure stable offtake agreements, which would make the mine more appealing to international investors.

    The primary output from Sarytogan will include sterilized graphite, used as a stabilizer in EV batteries, and crystalline graphite, both critical components in the clean tech and high-performance electronics sectors.

  • EU’s Lithium Gamble in Serbia Faces Political Turmoil and Public Backlash

    EU’s Lithium Gamble in Serbia Faces Political Turmoil and Public Backlash

    The European Union’s ambitious transition to electric vehicles has hit a political and environmental wall in Serbia, as the Jadar lithium mining project—touted as a game-changer for Europe’s battery supply—becomes entangled in controversy, public protests, and fears of corruption, Politico reports.

    The Jadar deposit, considered one of the richest in Europe, could power up to a million electric vehicles annually and potentially meet a quarter of Europe’s lithium demand. Unsurprisingly, the EU had eyed the site as a cornerstone for its Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), aimed at reducing reliance on China for essential resources.

    Developed by mining giant Rio Tinto, the project initially appeared to align with Brussels’ green goals. However, it has triggered fierce resistance in Serbia over environmental concerns and deep mistrust in government transparency. Public sentiment has turned sharply against the mine, seeing it as a symbol of elite corruption and foreign exploitation.

    “If the EU backs Jadar, it sends the message that economic interests override its core values,” warned Aleksandar Matković, a Serbian researcher and protest organizer. The opposition movement, gaining traction as part of broader anti-government unrest, intensified after a state-friendly documentary branded activists as “foreign agents.”

    Even EU Commissioner for Industry, Thierry Breton, notably excluded any non-EU projects—including Jadar—from the March 2025 list of CRMA strategic ventures. Though the Commission reiterated its commitment to Serbia as a strategic partner, critics speculate that Jadar’s controversial status may have played a role.

    Tensions escalated further when Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić met with EU leaders, facing sharp criticism for democratic backsliding. While Vučić accused protesters of being Western-funded, EU officials insisted on reforms in media freedom, anti-corruption efforts, and election integrity.

    Despite the official suspension of the project in January 2022 following mass protests, Rio Tinto has remained active in Serbia—maintaining offices, acquiring over 500 properties, and claiming $500 million already invested. Critics see this as a sign the project is merely paused, not canceled.

    Environmental activist Marija Vuković voiced the growing fear in the region of Loznica, near the proposed site: “People don’t trust the government. They believe their land and water will be sacrificed for someone else’s gain.”

    While some locals welcome the promise of jobs, others are wary of irreversible environmental damage and the potential transformation of the region into a “sacrifice zone.”

    EU policymakers now face a dilemma: Can they back a project so vital to Europe’s green future without appearing complicit in environmental degradation and democratic decline?

    The stakes go beyond lithium. Serbia’s geopolitical balancing act—between the EU, Russia, and China—adds layers of complexity. A move by Brussels perceived as aligning with Vučić could backfire, undermining EU credibility in the Balkans.

    “The EU cannot afford to seem like it’s trading values for minerals,” Matković concluded. “That would betray the very essence of the European project.”