MINEX Forum

Tag: Critical raw materials

  • EU Prepares New RESourceEU Strategy to Secure Critical Raw Materials and Reduce Dependence on China

    EU Prepares New RESourceEU Strategy to Secure Critical Raw Materials and Reduce Dependence on China

    The European Union is preparing to unveil a new economic security package next week, with a central component focused on safeguarding access to critical raw materials needed for clean technology and advanced industries. The initiative, known as RESourceEU, will form the bloc’s latest strategy to diversify supplies of essential inputs such as lithium, copper and nickel, and to reduce reliance on third-country suppliers — particularly China, which continues to dominate global clean-tech value chains and has tightened export controls on key materials.

    Modelled after the EU’s REPowerEU energy programme, RESourceEU is being developed against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and shifting global competition. The European Commission plans to use the strategy to forge new partnerships with resource-rich countries including Australia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and others, strengthening supply chains through long-term cooperation agreements.

    Recycling is set to play a central role. Brussels aims to significantly expand the EU’s capacity to recover critical materials from products reaching end-of-life, reducing the need for primary extraction. This dovetails with the Critical Raw Materials Act, which sets ambitious 2030 benchmarks: 10% of EU consumption of strategic minerals must come from domestic extraction, 40% from domestic processing and 25% from recycling. While many industry observers question whether these targets are achievable in time, they have nonetheless prompted European manufacturers to rethink business models and strengthen sourcing resilience.

    Additional EU initiatives are feeding into the strategy — from state aid tools supporting cross-border projects, to satellite-based exploration programmes designed to identify new raw material deposits. Financial support for battery manufacturing across Europe is also helping build internal value chains.

    Beyond Europe’s borders, the EU’s Global Gateway programme is funding major infrastructure and resource projects, particularly in Africa, with the intention of boosting local development while also ensuring stable supply routes for the EU. However, critics warn that the approach risks echoing historical patterns of extraction that disproportionately benefited Europe. EU officials insist the new strategy will prioritise equitable partnerships and avoid repeating colonial-era dynamics.

    RESourceEU is expected to outline a broad framework combining supply diversification, strategic investment, recycling expansion and international cooperation — all aimed at ensuring that Europe remains competitive and secure in an increasingly contested global market for critical raw materials.

  • EU Steps Up Critical Raw Materials Strategy as New RESourceEU Programme Targets Reduced Reliance on China

    EU Steps Up Critical Raw Materials Strategy as New RESourceEU Programme Targets Reduced Reliance on China

    The European Union is intensifying efforts to secure reliable access to the critical raw materials essential for clean technologies, energy security, and industrial competitiveness. Although China continues to dominate global refining and export of key materials such as rare earths, the EU has begun taking concrete steps to diversify supply and strengthen domestic capabilities—yet experts warn significantly more must be done to ensure long-term resilience.

    The 2024 Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) set the roadmap. It aims to bolster domestic mining, refining, and recycling while cutting dependence on any single external supplier. By 2030, the EU targets meeting 10% of its annual consumption through extraction, 40% via processing, and 15% through recycling. The CRMA also limits dependence on a single non-EU country to no more than 65% of supply for any critical raw material.

    Since its adoption, the EU has begun executing several key actions. In March 2025, the Commission selected 47 strategic projects for fast-track permitting, financing support, and priority access to buyers. A second round of selections will take place in January 2026. Member States are also required to strengthen monitoring of supply chain vulnerabilities and develop national resource plans.

    On the global stage, the EU has signed new raw material partnerships with Australia, Uzbekistan, Serbia, and Norway, with further collaboration planned with Greenland. Additional bilateral deals—such as Germany’s partnership with Canada—reinforce the diversification effort under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.

    Europe is also ramping up its processing capabilities. Neo Performance Materials recently opened a rare earth magnet factory in Estonia, the first of its kind in Europe, serving critical industries including automotive manufacturing and wind energy. Rare earth magnets are essential for permanent-magnet generators widely used in wind turbines due to their compactness and high performance.

    Recycling is another pillar of the CRMA. Member States must adopt national measures to improve collection and recycling of waste streams rich in critical raw materials, turning them into secondary supply sources.

    Building on these initiatives, Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné is preparing to unveil RESourceEU — a new strategy designed to strengthen EU purchasing power and reduce exposure to global supply risks. The programme includes a joint purchasing mechanism and strategic stockpiling centre for critical raw materials, enabling Member States to pool demand and negotiate better access conditions.

    RESourceEU is a direct response to rising geopolitical tensions and recent trade measures. China introduced export controls on rare earths and magnets earlier this year following U.S. tariffs, requiring foreign companies to obtain special licences. Although China has agreed to suspend some of the most restrictive measures for one year following negotiations with the United States, many controls—particularly on heavy rare earths—remain in effect and will continue to apply to EU imports.

    While the wind sector may avoid immediate disruption as long as light rare earths remain unaffected, the episode underscores Europe’s strategic vulnerability. Permanent magnets used in many modern turbines remain heavily dependent on Chinese supply chains.

    “The EU talks a good game on critical raw materials and has some good plans. It’s crucial they now execute,” said WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson. He stressed the importance of accelerating extraction and processing from alternative sources, adding that the RESourceEU plan “must translate into new action and increased urgency.”

  • EU Trade Chief Unveils Measures to Curb Aluminium Scrap Leakage and Shield Industry from Global Pressures

    EU Trade Chief Unveils Measures to Curb Aluminium Scrap Leakage and Shield Industry from Global Pressures

    BRUSSELS — Speaking to industry leaders, the EU’s trade commissioner outlined a series of new measures aimed at strengthening Europe’s aluminium sector amid rising geopolitical tensions, high energy costs, and intensifying global competition. Addressing the Aluminium Europe conference, he emphasized that aluminium is not only a pillar of the continent’s industrial history but also a critical material for its clean-tech future, defence capabilities, and strategic autonomy.

    The commissioner noted that aluminium remains essential to modern industries, underpinning technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, sustainable buildings, and resource-efficient packaging. Its designation as a strategic raw material under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) reflects its importance.

    The speech came against the backdrop of an “increasingly unpredictable” economic and geopolitical landscape, which has hit energy-intensive sectors particularly hard. The European Steel and Metals Action Plan, launched in March 2025, identifies the sector’s three primary challenges: persistently high energy costs, unequal global carbon-pricing systems, and unfair trade practices — the latter being the commissioner’s central focus.

    He highlighted that trade remains a core strength of the European economy, with over 700,000 EU companies exporting goods and supporting more than 30 million jobs. The aluminium industry alone exports over €10 billion annually to key destinations including the UK, U.S., Switzerland, Türkiye, and India.

    To support that competitiveness, the EU is expanding its network of free trade agreements, having recently concluded deals with Indonesia, Mercosur, and Mexico, and continuing negotiations with India, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and the UAE. As the EU will continue to rely on imports of bauxite and alumina, trade diversification remains essential.

    But openness, he stressed, must be paired with strong protective instruments. The EU will rigorously deploy its trade defence tools against dumped or subsidised imports and has established an import surveillance task force to monitor sudden surges, such as those linked to tariff changes by third countries. The recent EU ban on Russian aluminium under the 16th sanctions package was cited as an example of decisive action.

    A major industry concern is the “leakage” of aluminium scrap, with over one million tonnes leaving the EU annually despite scrap’s central role in decarbonisation and circularity. The commissioner announced that the EU is launching preparatory work on a new measure — expected by spring 2026 — aimed at balancing the needs of producers, recyclers, and downstream users while ensuring adequate access to competitively priced scrap. He underscored that the goal is not to block exports entirely but to safeguard a strategic commodity vital for low-carbon aluminium production. Public consultations will begin later this year.

    Another pressing issue remains the U.S. Section 232 tariffs, which impose 50% duties on EU aluminium and steel exports. Calling the tariffs “de facto prohibitive,” he said the Commission is pushing for a solution based on tariff-rate quotas tied to historical trade levels, maintaining the agreed 15% cap on all EU exports — including derivatives — under the EU-U.S. Joint Statement. He confirmed upcoming meetings with U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick and Ambassador Greer to advance discussions.

    Concluding his remarks, the commissioner stressed that aluminium production is inherently complex and now further challenged by global instability. While trade policy tools are essential, deeper structural issues — such as energy pricing and investment conditions — must also be addressed to strengthen the long-term business case for producing aluminium in Europe.

    He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working closely with Aluminium Europe and the broader industry to deliver “tangible results in short order.”

  • EIT RawMaterials Invests in Greenland Resources to Boost Europe’s Magnesium Supply and Reduce Dependence on China

    EIT RawMaterials Invests in Greenland Resources to Boost Europe’s Magnesium Supply and Reduce Dependence on China

    EIT RawMaterials GmbH has announced a €0.5 million equity investment in Greenland Resources A/S, a wholly owned subsidiary of Greenland Resources Inc. and developer of the Malmbjerg molybdenum project in central-east Greenland. The initiative aims to accelerate the recovery of magnesium—currently being evaluated as a potential by-product—from both process water and primary ore, strengthening Europe’s resource security amid growing concerns over supply concentration.

    China currently supplies around 95%–97% of Europe’s magnesium imports, posing a major vulnerability for industrial sectors reliant on the metal. Magnesium is a critical alloying element in aluminum production and plays an essential role in lightweight mobility, defence applications, and modern manufacturing.

    Supported by the EU-backed European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), EIT RawMaterials has collaborated with Greenland Resources from the outset to develop sustainable European molybdenum production. The new financing, provided under the Horizon Europe framework, will enable testing and scaling of low-emission technologies to extract magnesium from saline process water generated during molybdenum operations. Additional investment from existing Greenland Resources shareholders will focus on recovering magnesium directly from primary ore.

    Bernd Schäfer, CEO and Managing Director of EIT RawMaterials, emphasized the strategic importance of the effort. “Magnesium is mission-critical for Europe’s competitiveness — from lightweight mobility to defence — and yet the EU depends on China for nearly all its supply,” he said. He noted that the initiative addresses risks to key industries such as aluminum manufacturing, where magnesium is indispensable, and aligns with EU efforts to expand access to critical raw materials while reducing carbon intensity.

    The investment supports the objectives of the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which targets diversification and increased security of critical material supplies by 2030. Magnesium is officially classified as both a critical and strategic raw material, making projects that expand domestic or allied production a clear priority for the EU.

    By advancing technologies to recover magnesium from both process water and ore, the project aims to add new, lower-carbon supply streams to Europe’s raw materials portfolio. It complements the EU’s broader CRMA Strategic Projects and fits within EIT RawMaterials’ mission to mobilize investment and innovation across the raw materials value chain.

    Greenland Resources secured a 30-year exploitation licence for molybdenum and magnesium in June 2025, creating a robust permitting framework for the development pathway that this investment supports.

  • Euro Sun Mining Advances Romanian Copper-Gold Project with Key Regulatory Wins and Strong Updated Feasibility Results

    Euro Sun Mining Advances Romanian Copper-Gold Project with Key Regulatory Wins and Strong Updated Feasibility Results

    TORONTO — Euro Sun Mining Inc. (TSX: ESM) announced a major regulatory breakthrough in Romania as the government has adopted an Emergency Ordinance establishing a national Single Point of Contact to implement the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This new framework is designed to accelerate permitting and streamline processes for strategic projects, directly benefiting Euro Sun’s flagship Rovina Valley Copper-Gold Project.

    The company also released results from its optimized and updated definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the Colnic and Rovina open pits, marking the first phase of development for the project. According to the updated economic model, the project’s pre-tax net present value (NPV) has surged 173% to US$1.776 billion, with a pre-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 39.7%, based on copper priced at US$4.50/lb and gold at US$3,300/oz.

    Euro Sun estimates the first-stage development will produce 403 million pounds of copper and 1.472 million ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of US$1,206 per gold-equivalent ounce. The project incorporates a cyanide-free process and dry stack tailings, aligning with responsible mining practices. Initial capital expenditure (CAPEX) is estimated at US$607.1 million.

    CEO Grant Sboros called the regulatory milestone and DFS results “significant,” adding that the company’s environmental impact assessment technical report has also been completed. Sboros emphasized that the strengthened project economics reaffirm Rovina Valley’s importance as a future European source of critical metals.

    Euro Sun further announced it has fully repaid a US$350,000 secured debenture owed to a company affiliated with one of its directors, releasing all associated security interests.

    In a strategic move, the company has appointed Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corp. as its exclusive financial advisor to explore potential mergers, acquisitions, or asset-level transactions that could unlock additional value.

    The environmental impact assessment is now ready for submission, and Euro Sun plans to work closely with Romanian authorities to advance the project toward construction. The updated DFS reflects current cost data and revalidated economic assumptions, and it maintains a phased development approach. While the initial phase focuses on the Colnic and Rovina open pits, the underground Ciresata deposit may be integrated later pending future studies.

    Located in Romania’s historic Golden Quadrilateral Mining District, the Rovina Valley Project has access to established infrastructure, skilled local labor, and proximity to major transportation hubs. Over its 17-year open-pit operation, the project is expected to mine 140 million tonnes of ore, delivering 123.3 million tonnes for processing and stockpiling lower-grade material where feasible. Total material movement over the mine life is projected at 219 million tonnes, with a stripping ratio of 1.78:1.

  • Ukraine’s Titanium Comeback: A Strategic Blueprint for Rebuilding Europe’s Titanium Industry

    Ukraine’s Titanium Comeback: A Strategic Blueprint for Rebuilding Europe’s Titanium Industry

    For decades, titanium has been a cornerstone of aerospace, defense, and high-tech manufacturing — prized for its strength, lightness, and resistance to corrosion. Yet behind this strategic metal lies a highly concentrated global industry, where only a handful of nations control production of titanium sponge, the raw metallic form of the element.

    Among them, Ukraine once stood as a global leader, the industrial backbone of the Soviet titanium complex and one of the few countries that mastered the Kroll process — the key technology for sponge production. Ukraine uniquely combined chemical, metallurgical, and scientific expertise, hosting its own Institute of Titanium and advanced hydrometallurgical facilities capable of extracting not only titanium but also zirconium and hafnium.

    Today, that legacy stands disrupted. The Russian invasion has fractured Ukraine’s heavy industry and halted sponge production since 2021. But it also opened a potential path forward: the chance for Ukraine to reclaim a central role in Western titanium supply chains, as the world scrambles to reduce dependence on Russia and China.

    Global Titanium Landscape

    According to the US Geological Survey, global titanium sponge capacity reached 410,000 tons in 2024, with production steady at around 320,000 tons. The market is heavily consolidated:

    • China accounts for nearly 69% of global output, producing mainly industrial-grade sponge for domestic use.

    • Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan supply almost all of the aerospace-grade sponge imported by the United States and the European Union.

    • Russia remains integrated in its own defense value chain, but sanctions have eroded margins and logistics competitiveness.

    • Ukraine, a former key player, has recorded zero production since 2021.

    While China dominates the midstream segment with state-backed clusters, low-cost energy, and full integration, it lacks certification pathways to access Western aerospace markets. By contrast, Japan and Saudi Arabia occupy the high-quality premium segment, selling sponge at $11,000–13,000 per ton, compared with China’s $7,000 average price.

    The United States and EU remain the largest consumers and stockpilers, offering the most stable and profitable end markets — but they are also the most supply-constrained.

    Why Ukraine Matters

    Ukraine is the only European nation with both a high-grade mineral base and the industrial legacy to re-enter titanium sponge production. Its ilmenite and rutile deposits can support chloride-route Kroll processing, the same route used for aerospace-quality sponge.

    Even a 10,000–15,000 tpa facility could anchor a new Titanium Cluster serving Western markets. The cluster could later expand into VAR smelting (Vacuum Arc Remelting) to produce ingots and billets, especially for Ti-6Al-4V alloys used in aviation and defense.

    Strategically, this would fill a critical gap in the non-Chinese, non-Russian titanium segment, providing Europe with a certified domestic source of titanium metal for the first time in decades.

    Key Enablers and Investment Model

    Rebuilding Ukraine’s titanium metallurgy requires three foundational pillars:

    1. Energy Efficiency and Security:
      Titanium sponge production is power-intensive, with electricity costs accounting for 20–30% of total cash costs. Stable, affordable power — ideally renewable or nuclear — is crucial.

    2. Integrated Clustering:
      A vertically integrated industrial cluster combining mining, sponge, smelting, and by-product recovery (zirconium, hafnium, germanium) would minimize costs and maximize value retention.

    3. Strategic Financing:
      A $400–700 million CAPEX is needed for a 10,000–15,000 tpa sponge facility, with an additional $350–400 million for smelting capacity. Financing could come through long-term offtake contracts with Western aerospace and defense OEMs, supported by instruments such as the U.S.–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.

    Advanced payments and consortium-based equity could unlock broader project financing, while ensuring certification alignment with Western standards.

    Outlook and Feasibility

    Global titanium sponge output is forecast to reach 400,000–440,000 tons by 2035, driven by:

    • Rising aerospace demand (notably from Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 MAX programs).

    • Global rearmament and stockpiling.

    • Ongoing supply diversification efforts by Western governments.

    Within this framework, Ukraine and India are viewed as the two most promising re-entry markets. Ukraine could restore 5,000–10,000 tons per year of production by 2035, scaling to 15,000 tons under favorable conditions.

    Even modest early-stage output would offer strategic returns: it would anchor a European titanium hub, reduce Western supply risk, and cement Ukraine’s industrial role in the critical minerals value chain.

    Conclusion

    Ukraine possesses the minerals, know-how, and geographic advantage to rebuild a titanium industry that serves Europe’s long-term strategic interests.

    If paired with targeted investment, certification partnerships, and energy reforms, Ukraine could re-establish itself as a core supplier of aerospace-grade titanium, bridging the gap between resource-rich producers and high-tech Western consumers.

    Far from a nostalgic revival, this would mark a new strategic chapter — positioning Ukraine not just as a raw material exporter, but as Europe’s titanium powerhouse.

  • Savannah Resources Raises £9.2 Million in Oversubscribed Fundraise to Advance Barroso Lithium Project

    Savannah Resources Raises £9.2 Million in Oversubscribed Fundraise to Advance Barroso Lithium Project

    Savannah Resources Plc (AIM: SAV, FWB: SAV, SWB: SAV) announced it has successfully completed an oversubscribed £9.2 million (US$12 million) capital raise through a Placing and Subscription, with strong demand from existing and new institutional investors.

    The fundraising, managed through an accelerated bookbuild by SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Global Coordinator and Joint Bookrunner), alongside Canaccord Genuity Limited, Caixa-Banco de Investimento S.A., and Alantra Equities S.V. S.A., was significantly oversubscribed and scaled back as a result.

    The Company raised £5.9 million (US$7.6 million) via the Placing of 158.7 million shares and a further minimum £3.4 million (US$4.4 million) through a Subscription of at least 90.8 million shares, both at an issue price of 3.7 pence per share.

    Savannah’s Retail Offer remains open until 12:00 p.m. on 11 November 2025, after which final subscription totals will be confirmed.

    Use of Proceeds

    Net proceeds from the fundraise will strengthen Savannah’s financial position and accelerate development of the Barroso Lithium Project in northern Portugal — the largest battery-grade spodumene lithium resource in Europe and a European Commission “Strategic Project” under the Critical Raw Materials Act.

    Funds will be used to:

    • Acquire the Aldeia Mining Lease, which contains the highest-grade deposit within the Barroso Project area.

    • Advance Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) and long-lead item procurement.

    • Progress grid connection work and land control for infrastructure.

    • Cover project financing costs and provide additional working capital.

    CEO Statement

    Emanuel Proença, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

    “The strong demand from investors, which exceeded our US$12 million target, reflects growing confidence in the Barroso Lithium Project and renewed optimism in the lithium sector.

    With total cash reserves of approximately £20 million (US$26 million), Savannah is well positioned to move beyond the DFS and into pre-construction with confidence.

    The additional capital allows us to acquire the Aldeia Mining Lease and further progress critical workstreams ahead of construction.”

    Proença added that Savannah continues to expand its institutional investor base across Portugal, the UK, and Europe, with participation from both sector specialists and generalist investors. Retail investors are now able to participate through the open offer.

    Related Party Participation

    Key management and major shareholders took part in the subscription:

    Participant Subscription Shares Value (£) Resulting Shareholding
    Rick Anthon (Chairman) 550,676 £20,375 1,264,962 shares
    Emanuel Proença (CEO) 387,676 £14,352 3,124,556 shares
    Henrique Freire (CFO) 220,050 £8,135 2,520,050 shares

    Major shareholders also increased their stakes:

    • AMG Lithium B.V. subscribed for 39.1 million shares, bringing its total to 400.8 million shares.

    • Grupo Lusiaves SGPS, S.A. subscribed for 24.95 million shares (total 255.9 million).

    • Pluris Investments S.A. subscribed for 24.95 million shares (total 255.9 million).

    Their participation constitutes a related party transaction under AIM Rule 13. Independent directors Diogo da Silveira and Bruce Griffin reviewed the terms and deemed them fair and reasonable for shareholders.

    Admission and Next Steps

    Application has been made for the new shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Dealings in the Placing and Subscription Shares are expected to commence at 8:00 a.m. on 12 November 2025.

    A separate announcement will follow for the Retail Offer results and Admission of additional shares.

    About Savannah Resources

    Savannah Resources Plc is a European lithium development company focused on the Barroso Lithium Project in northern Portugal. Once operational, the project is expected to produce around 190,000 tonnes per year of spodumene concentrate, enough lithium for approximately 500,000 electric vehicle battery packs annually.

    Through responsible development, Savannah aims to support Europe’s energy transition and contribute to the EU’s target of 10% domestic lithium supply by 2030.

  • Sarytogan Graphite Secures $1.4 Million Top-Up from EBRD to Advance Definitive Feasibility Study

    Sarytogan Graphite Secures $1.4 Million Top-Up from EBRD to Advance Definitive Feasibility Study

    Sarytogan Graphite Limited (ASX: SGA), a key player in the mining industry specializing in natural graphite extraction, has announced a $1.4 million top-up placement from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This follows a previous $5 million investment, bringing EBRD’s total investment in the company to $6.4 million. The funding is part of a broader package aimed at supporting Sarytogan’s Definitive Feasibility Study, which is on track for completion by mid-2026.

    The additional investment will increase EBRD’s shareholding in Sarytogan Graphite Limited from 17.3% to 19.99%. This increased stake reflects the EBRD’s confidence in the company’s operations and its strategic positioning in the critical raw materials market.

    Sarytogan’s primary project, the Sarytogan Graphite Deposit located in the Karaganda region of Central Kazakhstan, is recognized as a Strategic Project under the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act. This designation underscores the project’s importance in supplying sustainable critical raw materials, particularly for battery production and other strategic uses.

    The company’s focus on sustainable mining practices and its strategic location make it a vital player in the global supply chain for critical raw materials. The completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study will be a significant milestone, providing a clearer picture of the project’s potential and its role in meeting the growing demand for graphite in various industries.

  • Serbia Launches Consultation on New Mining Law to Align with EU Standards

    Serbia Launches Consultation on New Mining Law to Align with EU Standards

    Serbia’s Ministry of Mining and Energy has launched a public consultation on a new law on mining and geological exploration aimed at modernizing the country’s resource management framework and aligning it with European Union standards on critical raw materials, sustainable development, and the circular economy.

    According to the ministry’s draft outline, the legislation will be harmonized with the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and the European Green Deal, supporting Serbia’s gradual integration into the EU’s framework for sustainable mining, climate neutrality, and secure mineral supply.

    The move follows the European Commission’s decision earlier this year to include Rio Tinto’s Jadar lithium and boron project in Serbia among the EU’s strategic projects for critical raw materials — the only lithium extraction project on the list.

    The proposed law seeks to establish a modern, transparent, and efficient system for managing Serbia’s mineral and geological resources, strengthening the state’s role as owner and steward of natural assets. It also emphasizes environmental and social responsibility, calling for clearer investor obligations regarding environmental protection, land reclamation, and site remediation.

    In line with EU reporting standards, Serbia intends to adopt the Pan-European Reserves and Resources Reporting Committee (PERC) framework, the UN Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC), and the Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS). The law will also mandate the application of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles throughout all stages of exploration and mining.

    Other key elements include:

    • Improving legal certainty in exploration and mining rights, with stricter oversight and consistent application of sustainability standards.

    • Defining and protecting strategic mineral deposits, ensuring they are incorporated into Serbia’s spatial and development plans.

    • Digitalizing permitting procedures through a unified online system for electronic applications and public access to data on exploration and mining areas.

    The ministry said the reform aims to ensure a gradual alignment with the EU’s green and digital transition goals while fostering investor confidence and transparency.

    The public consultation will remain open until November 11, allowing citizens, organizations, and industry representatives to submit comments and proposals on the draft framework.

  • China Tightens Grip on Tajikistan’s Antimony Industry

    China Tightens Grip on Tajikistan’s Antimony Industry

    In Tajikistan’s mountainous heartland, the Soviet-era Saritag antimony mine stands testament to China’s growing influence in Central Asia. Run by the joint venture Talco Gold, a collaboration between Tajik and Chinese companies, the mine produces over 5,000 tonnes of antimony concentrate daily, crucial for many industrial applications. The ore is crushed, ground in large drums, and then separated from the metal using chemical reagents before being dried and bagged as 30% pure antimony. This large-scale operation was made possible by a significant Chinese investment in 2022, which is now being followed by the construction of a new purification plant.

    Pictures of Tajikistan’s long-time President Emomali Rakhmon coexist with portraits of Chinese leader Xi Jinping on posters juxtaposing the country’s past with its present economic reality. While remnants of the Soviet era remain, China has overtaken Russia as the dominant power in the region’s crucial mining sector.

    The full potential of the mine is yet to be unlocked. China’s ambitious $359 million project aims to build a state-of-the-art purification plant on the site, allowing for even greater control over the antimony production chain.

    The Chinese investment, pouring in, signals a strategic move to secure access to vital resources and cement political ties. While offering much-needed economic boost to Tajikistan, it raises concerns about resource dependence and potential environmental consequences.

    This narrative paints a picture of delicate balance: economic prosperity coupled with increasing reliance on a single partner, leaving Tajikistan to navigate the complex landscape of China’s expanding geopolitical footprint in Central Asia.