MINEX Forum

Tag: Critical raw materials

  • Germany Seeks Deeper Partnership With Australia on Critical Raw Materials

    Germany Seeks Deeper Partnership With Australia on Critical Raw Materials

    Germany is looking to strengthen its cooperation with Australia on the supply and development of critical raw materials, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Thursday during an official visit to Canberra.

    Following talks with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Wadephul described Australia as a key partner for Germany in diversifying global supply chains. He highlighted the strategic importance of minerals extracted in Australia, particularly lithium, and said Berlin is keen to expand collaboration in the raw materials sector.

    Australia hosts some of the world’s most significant mineral resources, including the largest hard-rock lithium mine, located near the town of Greenbushes south of Perth. The site spans more than 2000 hectares and is responsible for roughly 20% of global lithium production. Lithium is a crucial component in lithium-ion batteries used in consumer electronics and electric vehicles.

    In addition to lithium, Australia holds substantial reserves of rare earth elements such as neodymium and terbium, which are essential for manufacturing permanent magnets used in electric motors and other advanced technologies.

    Wadephul acknowledged that closer cooperation in developing and exploiting mineral resources would require significant financial investment. He noted that extraction and processing of critical raw materials can be costly, but emphasised that Germany’s economy is particularly reliant on secure access to these resources.

  • Greenland’s Vast Mineral Potential Draws Strategic Attention as Arctic Competition Intensifies

    Greenland’s Vast Mineral Potential Draws Strategic Attention as Arctic Competition Intensifies

    Greenland’s mineral resources are increasingly attracting international interest as competition over critical raw materials expands into the Arctic, according to Prof. Krzysztof Szamałek, director of the Polish Geological Institute in Warsaw. He noted that the island’s geological potential has gained prominence amid growing geopolitical rivalry and renewed debate over Arctic security.

    Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has recently returned to the global spotlight following statements by US President Donald Trump emphasizing the island’s importance to American security. According to estimates cited by Poland’s state news agency PAP, the theoretical value of Greenland’s resource base could reach USD 4.4 trillion, including around USD 1.4 trillion in oil and approximately USD 1.5 trillion in rare earth elements.

    Szamałek explained that Greenland’s resources are strategically significant because they include critical raw materials essential for modern industry, where supply disruptions could severely constrain production. The European Union identified 34 critical raw materials two years ago, many of which are vital for advanced technologies and energy systems.

    However, he cautioned that current knowledge of Greenland’s mineral wealth remains preliminary. Most assessments confirm the presence of mineral-bearing formations rather than verified reserves. Detailed exploration, drilling, and resource calculations would still be required, and the island’s ice-covered interior could hold additional geological insights in the future.

    Potential deposits identified so far include graphite, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, platinum group elements, and precious metals used in electronics and electrical engineering, as well as strontium, titanium, hafnium, and zirconium. Szamałek stressed that these resources are “estimated, not fully documented,” and that development would be a long and complex process.

    Most known deposits are located in offshore areas and along Greenland’s coastline, reflecting the fact that roughly 80 percent of the island is covered by an ice sheet. Of the EU’s 34 critical raw materials, Szamałek said 25 are believed to occur in Greenland, compared with only four or five in Poland, depending on classification.

    He also pointed out that China currently dominates the production of many rare earth elements, and that interest in Greenland is driven largely by efforts to diversify supply chains rather than by an immediate global shortage. Extracting minerals from beneath Greenland’s ice sheet, he added, remains technologically untested and unnecessary at this stage.

  • Poland Urges Brussels to Act Over Ukraine’s Steel Scrap Export Ban

    Poland Urges Brussels to Act Over Ukraine’s Steel Scrap Export Ban

    Poland has asked the European Commission to intervene after Ukraine introduced measures that effectively halt exports of steel scrap to the European Union, a move Warsaw warns could undermine the competitiveness of its steel industry.

    The dispute highlights growing trade frictions between the two close partners at a time when the EU continues to provide political, financial and military support to Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion. While Poland remains one of Kyiv’s strongest allies, tensions have mounted over trade flows, including agricultural products, transit corridors and now scrap metal.

    From January 1, Ukraine set export quotas for ferrous scrap at zero, effectively blocking shipments of a key input for electric arc furnaces. Poland’s Ministry of Development and Technology said the restrictions are already disrupting supply chains and risk driving up costs for domestic steelmakers.

    Roughly half of Poland’s steel output is produced using electric arc furnaces, which rely heavily on scrap as their primary raw material. In recent years, Poland has been the main destination for Ukrainian scrap exports. According to the ministry, a prolonged shortage could lead to higher production costs, weaker competitiveness and a real risk of output cuts and job losses in the sector.

    Kyiv has defended the measure as a wartime necessity, arguing that limiting exports helps support Ukraine’s own steel industry. Polish industry representatives counter that the policy lowers input costs for Ukrainian producers while increasing prices for manufacturers in the EU.

    Warsaw says it attempted to avert the restrictions before they took effect. On December 18, 2025, the Polish ministry sent a formal letter to Ukraine’s deputy economy minister urging the government to reconsider plans that would block scrap exports. With no response and the zero quotas now in force, Poland escalated the issue to Brussels.

    Following the Ukrainian government’s decision, the ministry formally requested urgent intervention from the European Commission, describing the quotas as a de facto export ban. Polish officials added that the matter will also be raised during upcoming bilateral talks with Ukrainian counterparts.

  • Sibanye-Stillwater completes assessment of Keliber lithium project, confirms staged start-up plan

    Sibanye-Stillwater completes assessment of Keliber lithium project, confirms staged start-up plan

    Sibanye-Stillwater has completed a multidisciplinary assessment of its Keliber lithium project in Finland, confirming the project’s technical readiness and outlining a staged approach to commissioning amid current market conditions.

    The Keliber project is regarded as the European Union’s most advanced fully integrated lithium development, with planned production of around 15,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate over a mine life exceeding 18 years. It is also one of the few lithium hydroxide refineries outside China and has been designated a strategic project under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, reflecting its importance to the bloc’s battery supply chain.

    According to Sibanye-Stillwater, construction of the fully integrated mine, concentrator and refinery remains on track, with completion of the construction phase and cold commissioning expected in the first quarter of 2026. The total capital investment required to complete construction is estimated at approximately €783 million.

    Following the assessment, Sibanye-Stillwater and its strategic partner, Finnish Minerals Group, have agreed that a staged start-up represents the most prudent path forward. Under this approach, initial commissioning will focus on achieving operational readiness at the mining and concentrating stages before determining the timing for commissioning the refinery.

    The company said this phased strategy is intended to reduce ramp-up risks while preserving financial flexibility, allowing certain capital expenditures and refining ramp-up costs to be deferred depending on lithium market conditions. Finnish Minerals Group is preparing to contribute additional funding on a pro rata basis in line with its 20% equity stake to support the project through the ramp-up period.

    Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Richard Stewart said the agreed approach balances technical readiness with market realities, ensuring the project advances in a responsible and commercially disciplined manner while remaining positioned to supply locally produced lithium into the EU battery value chain.

  • Portugal aims to launch lithium prospecting tender in 2025 with focus on local benefits

    Portugal aims to launch lithium prospecting tender in 2025 with focus on local benefits

    Portugal’s government plans to launch a long-delayed tender for lithium prospecting licenses later this year, as part of efforts to strengthen Europe’s battery materials supply chain while addressing local opposition to mining projects. Environment Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho said the government is preparing a national mining strategy to be finalized by the summer, with an emphasis on community involvement and regional value creation.

    Portugal currently holds around 60,000 tonnes of lithium reserves and is Europe’s largest lithium producer, though output has traditionally been used for ceramics rather than battery-grade material. Expanding into battery-quality lithium is seen as critical for reducing Europe’s dependence on imports and supporting the continent’s clean energy transition.

    Carvalho told Reuters that future mining projects would prioritize keeping economic benefits within the country, sharing revenues regionally and creating local jobs. She added that the government is reviewing international best Reed practices while moving quickly to unlock investment. The original tender was first planned in 2018 but was repeatedly delayed due to political instability, including the collapse of several governments. The current minority administration took office in March 2025.

    Regulatory progress has already been made on specific projects. Portugal’s environmental agency APA has granted initial approval for lithium extraction at the Barroso mine, operated by Savannah Resources, as well as the Montalegre project developed by local firm Lusorecursos.

    Separately, Carvalho commented on ongoing talks between Portuguese energy company Galp and private equity-backed Moeve regarding a potential merger of their oil refining businesses. If completed, the deal would create one of Europe’s largest refining groups, with a combined capacity of about 700,000 barrels per day. The Portuguese state currently holds an 8% stake in Galp.

  • Greenland’s Kvanefjeld rare earth project highlights Europe’s late scramble for strategic minerals

    Greenland’s Kvanefjeld rare earth project highlights Europe’s late scramble for strategic minerals

    On Greenland’s southern tip, the Kvanefjeld mining project has become a symbol of both vast opportunity and prolonged paralysis. Beneath its icy terrain lies one of the world’s most significant deposits of neodymium and praseodymium, rare earth elements essential for wind turbines, electric vehicles and advanced military technologies. If developed, Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, would become the first European source of these critical materials.

    The project is led by Energy Transition Minerals, which has long signaled readiness to move into production. However, progress stalled after the Greenlandic government imposed a ban on uranium mining in 2021, citing environmental and public health concerns. Because rare earths at Kvanefjeld are geologically associated with uranium, the ban effectively froze the project, triggering legal disputes that continue to delay development.

    Former Danish foreign minister Jeppe Kofod, now a strategic adviser to Energy Transition Minerals, said the case illustrates how regulatory uncertainty, geopolitics and high capital requirements can obstruct even strategically vital projects. Despite Greenland holding rare earth resources estimated to cover up to a quarter of global demand, alongside substantial oil, gas and other mineral potential, only two small mines are currently operating on the island.

    European interest has increased only recently. In 2023, the European Union signed a memorandum of understanding with Greenland to cooperate on mining projects, followed by the adoption of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, which explicitly recognizes Greenland’s strategic importance. The European Commission has since committed funding to Greenland’s Malmbjerg molybdenum project to support defense-related supply chains.

    Analysts warn, however, that Europe may have moved too slowly. With the United States and China intensifying their focus on Greenland’s resources and U.S. President Donald Trump openly signaling aggressive ambitions toward the island, European policymakers risk being sidelined. Greenland’s harsh climate, limited infrastructure, small population and strict environmental rules further complicate development, even as climate change gradually improves access to previously icebound regions.

    While Brussels maintains that the future of Greenland’s resources rests solely with its people and elected authorities, growing geopolitical pressure suggests that external powers may play an increasingly decisive role in shaping the island’s mining future.

  • Deep beneath Kiruna, Sweden pushes forward in Europe’s race to mine rare earths

    Deep beneath Kiruna, Sweden pushes forward in Europe’s race to mine rare earths

    In the depths of Arctic winter, with temperatures plunging to minus 20 degrees Celsius and daylight reduced to a few hours of twilight, a team of miners is advancing one of Europe’s most strategically important resource projects beneath the Swedish town of Kiruna. Around 900 metres underground, workers at the state-owned LKAB are tunnelling toward the Per Geijer deposit, regarded as one of the continent’s largest known concentrations of rare earth elements.

    Europe currently has no operating rare earth mines, despite rising demand for materials critical to electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, consumer electronics and defence technologies. The push to develop domestic supply has intensified as geopolitical tensions grow and China maintains near-total dominance over rare earth processing and magnet production.

    At Kiruna, the rare earths occur alongside iron ore in a magnetite-hematite-phosphate formation identified more than a century ago. Teams work at depths of up to 1.3 kilometres, drilling, blasting and reinforcing tunnels that will eventually link the existing iron ore mine with the Per Geijer resource roughly two kilometres away. Progress is incremental, averaging about five metres per day, reflecting both the technical complexity and environmental sensitivity of the operation.

    LKAB’s strategy differs from earlier mining approaches. Rather than exposing the entire deposit at once, the company plans phased development, gradually integrating rare earth extraction into the established iron ore system. Chief executive Jan Moström has said this approach is essential to manage risk, control costs and accelerate learning as Europe rebuilds lost mining and processing capabilities.

    To shorten timelines, LKAB has invested €80 million in a demonstration plant in Luleå to test separation technologies ahead of full-scale mining. The company has also taken a stake in Norway-based REEtec to develop cleaner refining methods, aiming to meet strict European environmental standards.

    Industry experts note that even with favourable geology, moving from resource discovery to refined rare earth products can take a decade or more. Still, Kiruna is widely viewed as Europe’s strongest near-term opportunity to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains, which currently account for around 85% of global rare earth processing and virtually all heavy rare earth refining.

    European officials, including EU industry commissioner Stéphane Séjourné, have visited the site, underlining its strategic importance as the bloc seeks greater resource autonomy. While China is expected to retain dominance for years, projects like Kiruna are seen as critical first steps toward a more resilient European supply chain.

  • Germany calls for stronger cooperation on critical raw materials ahead of Washington talks

    Germany calls for stronger cooperation on critical raw materials ahead of Washington talks

    German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil on Sunday urged closer international cooperation on critical raw materials as he prepared to travel to Washington for high-level talks with counterparts from major industrialized nations.

    Speaking before his departure from Berlin, Klingbeil, who also serves as vice chancellor and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), said Germany and the European Union remain committed to fair, rule-based and reliable trade. He emphasized that access to critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and rare earths is essential for economic growth, technological development and job security.

    The United States has invited finance ministers from several leading economies to discuss securing access to these materials, whose global supply chains are highly concentrated and largely dependent on a small number of countries, including China.

    “Access to critical raw materials and reliable supply chains is of utmost importance for the economy and jobs,” Klingbeil said, adding that Germany has a strong interest in expanding international cooperation to strengthen supply security, reduce strategic dependencies and ensure stable economic conditions. He stressed that joint action should be taken wherever possible.

  • Savannah Resources secures up to €110 million state grant for Barroso lithium project in Portugal

    Savannah Resources secures up to €110 million state grant for Barroso lithium project in Portugal

    Savannah Resources has been awarded a non-reimbursable grant of up to approximately €110 million from the Portuguese State to support construction of its flagship Barroso lithium project in northern Portugal. The project has been designated as strategic under the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials framework.

    The funding represents one of the largest public financial contributions to a mining project in Portugal and reflects support from both national and European authorities for the development of a domestic lithium supply chain linked to the energy transition. Barroso is Europe’s largest known spodumene lithium deposit and is viewed as a cornerstone asset for strengthening regional battery raw material security.

    According to Savannah, the grant will be provided under Portugal’s Investments in Strategic Sectors Incentive Scheme and falls within the contractual investment regime for large-scale projects considered critical to carbon neutrality and economic transformation. The funding is backed by national resources and the European Commission’s Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework.

    The €110 million grant is split into two parts. Around 75%, or €82.25 million, will support initial capital expenditure, while the remaining €27.42 million is tied to operational performance milestones once the mine enters production. The funding is non-repayable but subject to specific conditions and project timelines.

    The award will be formalized through an investment agreement with AICEP, following approvals from the Compete 2030 programme and the Ministry of Economy and Territorial Cohesion. Savannah said it expects the first tranche of funding to be drawn alongside the initial capital development phase.

    Chief executive Emanuel Proença said the grant marks a major milestone for both Savannah and the Barroso project, significantly strengthening its capital structure as the company targets first production from 2028. He added that the project is expected to deliver broad economic and social benefits, including job creation in the Barroso region, the development of a new industry in Portugal, and improved European energy independence through locally sourced lithium.

    Chief financial officer Henrique Freire noted that the grant enhances the project’s financial position ahead of a final investment decision expected later this year, as Savannah continues to advance discussions on debt financing and strategic partnerships.

  • Germany’s Altmark basin emerges as potential lithium powerhouse through direct extraction technology

    Germany’s Altmark basin emerges as potential lithium powerhouse through direct extraction technology

    Northern Saxony-Anhalt, a region historically associated with natural gas production, is drawing renewed attention as a potential cornerstone of Europe’s lithium supply. New assessments indicate that deep underground brines in the Altmark basin contain far larger volumes of lithium than previously believed, offering a possible breakthrough for the continent’s battery materials strategy.

    Neptune Energy, which operates in the area, announced in late 2025 that an independent resource estimate by Sproule ERCE placed the Altmark deposit at around 43 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. Verified under the CIM/NI 43-101 standard, the estimate would rank Altmark among the world’s largest known single-site lithium resources if confirmed through further development.

    The lithium is hosted in deep geothermal brines within Rotliegend sandstone and volcanic formations at depths of 3,200 to 4,000 meters. Average lithium concentrations of about 375 milligrams per litre have been recorded, largely attributed to long-term mineral leaching from mica-rich volcanic rocks under high-temperature conditions.

    Rather than conventional open-pit mining or evaporation ponds, Neptune is advancing direct lithium extraction technologies. Pilot projects completed in 2025 successfully produced battery-grade lithium carbonate using ion exchange and adsorption methods. These enclosed systems return processed brine underground, significantly reducing land use and water consumption compared with traditional approaches.

    The project aligns with the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act, which targets greater domestic sourcing of strategic minerals such as lithium by 2030. By reusing legacy gas infrastructure and combining lithium recovery with geothermal heat potential, Altmark could offer a lower-impact model for mineral production within Europe.

    Commercial output has yet to begin, and further permitting and demonstration-scale validation are required. German regulators are expected to closely review groundwater protection, waste handling and long-term environmental performance. If successful, Altmark may play a pivotal role in reshaping Europe’s position in the global lithium supply chain.