MINEX Forum

Tag: rare earths

  • Kazakhstan Reports Significant Increase in Mineral Reserves Following Exploration Work

    Kazakhstan Reports Significant Increase in Mineral Reserves Following Exploration Work

    Kazakhstan has recorded a substantial increase in mineral reserves following recent geological exploration, Vice Minister of Industry and Construction Iran Sharkhan said at a government press conference on December 18. According to him, newly identified reserves include about 98 tons of gold, 36000 tons of copper, and more than 1.3 million tons of phosphorites.

    As a result of the exploration campaign, five new deposits have been placed on the state register for the first time. These include Kok-Zhon, Altyn-Shoko, Samombet, Studenchesky, and Takyr-Kaldzhir.

    Sharkhan said Kazakhstan continues to expand the scope of its geological and geophysical surveys. More than 2 million square kilometers of territory have already been studied, with this figure expected to rise to 2.2 million square kilometers by 2026. He also noted that a promising area containing rare earth metals has been identified in the Karaganda region.

    To support further exploration, the government has allocated 240 million tenge from its reserve to develop project documentation for a transition to detailed geological studies at a scale of 1:50 000. According to the Ministry of Industry, this new approach will make it possible to identify prospective areas at earlier stages of exploration.

    Between 2026 and 2028, detailed geological studies are planned across 100000 square kilometers. The work will be carried out by a consortium involving the National Geological Service and leading research institutes, using aerogeophysical technologies. The vice minister said these methods are expected to significantly improve the efficiency of geological exploration.

  • Portugal Emerges as Potential Hub for Critical Minerals as Exploration Intensifies

    Portugal Emerges as Potential Hub for Critical Minerals as Exploration Intensifies

    Europe is closely monitoring developments in Portugal as private companies carry out preliminary studies to assess the presence of critical minerals beneath the country’s surface. The growing interest is driven by the need to secure supplies of rare earths and other strategic elements essential for modern technologies, amid efforts by the European Union to reduce its dependence on China.

    Brussels has already fast-tracked several extractive projects linked to critical raw materials, and new geological data suggest that Portugal’s resource potential may be broader than previously assumed. According to Luís Martins, a geologist at Portugal’s National Laboratory for Energy and Geology (LNEC), the country is on the verge of a new mining-driven transformation. He noted that Portugal has strong expertise in mining and environmental management compared with many other European states.

    Exploration activities, including test drilling, are currently underway in parts of the Alentejo and the Northwest Transmontano regions, such as Moncorvo, an area with a long mining history. Martins stressed, however, that commercial extraction remains a distant prospect, explaining that rare earth elements are often associated with iron deposits, as seen in Moncorvo.

    In the Alentejo, areas including Monforte-Tinoca, Assumar, Crato-Arronches, and Penedo Gordo have already revealed the presence of highly sought-after elements. These include zircon, hafnium, titanium, niobium, tantalum, yttrium, and scandium. While not all of these minerals fall strictly within the rare earth category, many are classified as strategic or critical, heightening EU interest.

    Martins explained that rare earth elements comprise 17 chemical elements, including the 15 lanthanides as well as scandium and yttrium, which share similar chemical properties and often occur in the same deposits. These materials are vital for a wide range of industrial and technological applications due to characteristics such as magnetism, luminescence, and electrical resistance.

    The prospect of expanded mining activity raises concerns about environmental impacts, landscapes, and traditional rural livelihoods. Resistance has already been seen in northern Portugal, where communities have opposed lithium mining projects. Despite this, Martins believes economic considerations are likely to prevail. He pointed to two major untapped gold deposits in Montemor and Jales/Gralheira, which together could yield up to one million ounces of gold, currently valued at approximately 3.6 billion euros.

  • Understanding Critical Infrastructure in Contemporary Mineral Markets: Romania’s Rare Earth Test Case

    Understanding Critical Infrastructure in Contemporary Mineral Markets: Romania’s Rare Earth Test Case

    As Europe confronts growing vulnerabilities in critical mineral supply chains, processing infrastructure has emerged as the decisive bottleneck separating genuine industrial autonomy from continued dependence on geographically concentrated production hubs. Within this context, Romania’s rare earth processing initiative stands as a litmus test for Europe’s ability to translate strategic policy into operational capability.

    The planned rare earth processing facility at Feldioara is more than a standalone industrial project. It reflects a deliberate shift in European thinking, recognising that sovereignty over critical materials depends less on mining alone and more on control of midstream processing and refining. With China controlling roughly 80% of global rare earth refining capacity, European policymakers have identified downstream infrastructure as the most effective leverage point to rebalance supply chains.

    Romania’s advantage lies in its legacy nuclear infrastructure. The Feldioara site builds on decades of uranium concentrate processing expertise under Nuclearelectrica and its subsidiary FPCU, offering an existing base of metallurgical know-how, regulatory compliance systems, and a trained technical workforce. This significantly shortens development timelines compared with greenfield processing projects and reduces execution risk in a sector where technical complexity has derailed many Western initiatives.

    Strategically, the project aligns closely with the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act and related funding instruments, which prioritise processing, recycling, and midstream integration over pure extraction. By focusing on processing capacity capable of handling material from multiple upstream sources, Romania positions itself as a regional hub rather than a single-mine solution. This model enhances resilience and supports European industries spanning defence, electrification, energy infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

    The joint venture structure between state-owned FPCU and Critical Metals Corp reflects a broader European experiment in public–private governance for strategic infrastructure. State participation anchors the project within EU strategic autonomy objectives, while private-sector involvement brings market access, operational expertise, and commercial discipline. However, this structure also places a premium on transparent governance, clear decision-making authority, and alignment between commercial incentives and strategic goals.

    Supply integration with the Tanbreez rare earth project in Greenland adds a further geopolitical dimension. The Greenland–Romania corridor represents a fully Western-aligned alternative to Chinese processing routes, but it also introduces technical challenges. Eudialyte-hosted rare earth mineralisation requires specialised processing flowsheets, demanding innovation, pilot-scale testing, and cost discipline to remain competitive against established Asian processors.

    Ultimately, the Feldioara project encapsulates the broader European dilemma in critical minerals. Policy ambition is now clear, financing tools are emerging, and geopolitical incentives are strong. The remaining question is execution. Success would validate Europe’s shift from regulatory aspiration to industrial governance, creating a replicable model for other critical materials. Failure would reinforce the structural challenges that have long constrained Western processing capacity.

  • Critical Metals Corp and Romania’s FPCU Form 50:50 JV to Build EU Rare Earth Processing Hub Linked to Tanbreez

    Critical Metals Corp and Romania’s FPCU Form 50:50 JV to Build EU Rare Earth Processing Hub Linked to Tanbreez

    Critical Metals Corp. (Nasdaq: CRML) has executed a term sheet to establish a 50:50 joint venture with Romania’s state-owned Fabrica de Prelucrare a Concentratelor de Uraniu (FPCU), marking a major step toward creating a fully integrated, Western-aligned rare earth supply chain spanning mine to processing.

    Under the agreement, the JV will secure long-term offtake rights to 50% of Tanbreez’s rare earth concentrate production and advance plans to develop a state-of-the-art rare earth processing facility in Romania. The project is designed to supply European industries and defence sectors while reducing reliance on China, which currently controls more than 80% of global rare earth processing capacity.

    The JV structure is notable in that CRML will not issue debt or equity to fund the facility. The company will retain its 50% stake on a carried-interest basis, with no capital expenditure obligations related to construction. The plant is expected to produce a range of high-value outputs, including aerospace- and military-grade rare earth magnets.

    With this agreement, CRML will have 75% of Tanbreez’s future production committed under long-term offtake agreements with allied partners, following earlier deals allocating 10% to UCORE and 15% to ReAlloys. Once mining at Tanbreez is commissioned, CRML will supply half of the project’s concentrate to the Romanian JV for the full life of mine on competitive market terms.

    The partners will now work to finalise the technical and commercial framework for the JV, overseen by a dedicated development committee responsible for plant design, development strategy and commercialisation of processed products. Both CRML and the Romanian government plan to apply for funding under the EU’s recently announced €3.5-billion critical raw materials support package.

    CRML also confirmed it is updating its feasibility study to reflect a redesigned processing flowsheet at Tanbreez. The company is targeting an increase in concentrate grade from 2.2–2.5% to above 3% TREO, which is expected to improve mine-to-metal economics and downstream product quality. An updated feasibility study and revised timelines are expected by Q1 2026.

  • Critical Metals Corp Strikes 50:50 JV with Romania’s FPCU to Build EU Rare Earth Processing Hub

    Critical Metals Corp Strikes 50:50 JV with Romania’s FPCU to Build EU Rare Earth Processing Hub

    European Lithium’s US-listed subsidiary, Critical Metals Corp (CRML), has signed a term sheet to form a 50:50 joint venture with Fabrica de Prelucrare a Concentratelor de Uraniu (FPCU), Romania’s state-owned strategic processor of mineral concentrates. The agreement marks one of Europe’s most significant moves yet to establish a Western-aligned rare earths processing base as the EU and NATO seek to reduce reliance on China.

    Under the deal, the JV will secure 50% of the offtake from Greenland’s Tanbreez rare earth project, lifting the total volume under long-term agreements with Western partners to 75%. The partners plan to design, finance and construct a rare earth refinery in Romania to convert Tanbreez concentrate into high-purity metals, salts and military-grade magnet products.

    CRML chair and CEO Tony Sage described the agreement as a “monumental game-changer”, arguing that the partnership positions Europe to claw back strategic independence in rare earths. The facility, he said, will underpin sectors ranging from defence to advanced manufacturing, supplying feedstock sourced entirely from Western-aligned jurisdictions. CRML will retain a 50% stake in the JV on a carried basis and will not contribute capital to construction.

    FPCU CEO Cosmin Ghiță called the initiative a core pillar of Romania’s emerging industrial strategy, aligning with its ten-year plan to modernise strategic materials production. The plant will be located at the Feldioara complex, a site with a long history of refining and hydrometallurgical operations.

    The term sheet also outlines CRML’s intention to upgrade Tanbreez concentrate grades by revising its processing flowsheet, potentially lifting TREO content above 3%. The enhancements will be incorporated into an updated feasibility study to be completed by the end of Q1 2026.

    The announcement comes as the European Commission rolls out up to €3.5 billion in financing to strengthen critical raw materials supply chains under its new Economic Security Strategy. CRML and the Romanian government plan to apply jointly for support under the funding package.

    The JV is expected to serve as a cornerstone of Europe’s rare earth supply chain, processing up to half of Tanbreez’s resource for downstream European industries. Once Tanbreez enters production, CRML will supply the Romanian plant for the life of the mine under competitive, market-based terms.

    Critical Metals Corp currently controls two key assets: the Tanbreez rare earth megadeposit in southern Greenland and the Wolfsberg lithium project in Austria, the first fully permitted lithium mine in Europe. Both are positioned to feed Western supply chains for electrification, defence, and high-tech industries.

  • Germany Reports “Constructive” Signals from China on Rare Earth Supplies

    Germany Reports “Constructive” Signals from China on Rare Earth Supplies

    German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul says China has shown willingness to cooperate on rare earth exports to Europe, offering a rare moment of optimism amid deepening geopolitical and trade tensions. Speaking during a two-day visit to Beijing, Wadephul said Chinese officials indicated they would work “constructively” with European importers seeking general licences to secure supplies of rare earths — metals critical to electronics, defence technologies and electric vehicles.

    The minister met with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zheng, using the talks to address Beijing’s recent export restrictions on rare earths, as well as concerns over industrial overcapacity in China’s EV and steel sectors. In a message posted following the meetings, Wadephul said Germany and China remained committed to “balanced economic relations,” while acknowledging the need to confront “imbalances” such as market-access barriers and trade controls.

    China introduced new export restrictions on several rare earth products this year, forcing global manufacturers to confront their dependence on Chinese supply. Wadephul said Beijing reassured him that it had “no intention” of burdening German companies with additional hurdles and encouraged them to apply for general licences under China’s evolving export framework. Wang Wentao also emphasised that the licensing system was designed to keep supply chains “stable and smooth.”

    The discussions come at a time of heightened strain in German-Chinese relations. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged a firmer stance toward Beijing, and Wadephul previously cancelled an earlier trip after criticising China’s activities around Taiwan. German officials have repeatedly warned that the country — long one of China’s closest European trading partners — is now highly exposed to Beijing’s leverage over critical raw materials.

    Last month, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil left China with only informal assurances regarding rare earth supplies, highlighting the limits of European influence. The European Union is preparing to mobilise at least €3 billion over the next year to reduce its dependency on China for strategic raw materials, including through mining, processing and recycling initiatives.

    Wadephul also used the Beijing meetings to press China to exert pressure on Russia to engage in “serious negotiations” over its war against Ukraine. He said European expectations were clearly conveyed: “If there’s one country that has influence on Russia, it’s China.”

  • Kazakhstan Announces Major New Discoveries of Gold, Rare Earths and Strategic Metals as Geological Survey Intensifies

    Kazakhstan Announces Major New Discoveries of Gold, Rare Earths and Strategic Metals as Geological Survey Intensifies

    Kazakhstan is accelerating its nationwide geological exploration programme, aiming to expand the area of mapped and studied subsoil from 2.1 million sq km to 2.2 million sq km by 2026. According to the Ministry of Industry and Construction, the push is already yielding significant results: exploration work completed in 2024 across 11 sites has led to the identification of promising new deposits of precious, rare and strategic metals.

    Some of the most important discoveries span four key regions. In Abai Region, geologists have outlined forecast resources of 3,200 tonnes of beryllium, 1,100 tonnes of yttrium, and 200 tonnes of niobium. In East Kazakhstan, newly identified deposits are estimated to contain 20,600 tonnes of beryllium and 600 tonnes of tungsten.

    The Karaganda Region delivered the largest rare-earth findings, with early estimates indicating 935,400 tonnes of lanthanoids. Specialists also believe the region may host 98,700 tonnes of copper, 59,800 tonnes of yttrium, 33,480 tonnes of gallium, and 7,000 tonnes of molybdenum.

    Meanwhile, Kostanay Region emerged as the country’s gold leader, with forecast resources reaching 17,500 tonnes. Prospective copper reserves there are estimated at 13,480 tonnes.

    A separate initiative — the “Predictive Assessment of Collision-Zone Granitoids in Eastern Kazakhstan” — identified three target zones with substantial potential for niobium, zirconium, and rare-earth elements. Preliminary estimates suggest more than 500,000 tonnes of niobium, 2 million tonnes of zirconium, 947,000 tonnes of rare earths, as well as 79,800 tonnes of molybdenum and 399,100 tonnes of tungsten.

    As a result of 2024 exploration activities, five new deposits have been officially added to the national register: Kok-Zhon, Altyn-Shoko, Samombet, Studenchesky and Takyr-Kaldzhir. Newly booked reserves include 98 tonnes of gold, 36,000 tonnes of copper, 11 million tonnes of manganese, and more than 1.3 million tonnes of phosphorites.

    The discoveries underscore Kazakhstan’s growing role as a major source of critical minerals and precious metals, supporting both domestic industrialisation goals and international supply-chain diversification strategies.

  • 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.

  • Safran Taps UK Researchers to Lead Europe’s Push for Rare-Earth Alternatives Amid Fears of China’s Market Dominance

    Safran Taps UK Researchers to Lead Europe’s Push for Rare-Earth Alternatives Amid Fears of China’s Market Dominance

    French aerospace giant Safran, the world’s largest jet engine manufacturer, has chosen its Pitstone facility in Buckinghamshire to spearhead Europe’s search for alternatives to Chinese-controlled rare earths — critical materials essential for magnets used in electric motors, aircraft systems and green technologies.

    The decision comes as Western governments and companies intensify efforts to reduce dependence on China, which controls roughly 90% of global rare-earth supply and has increasingly used export controls as geopolitical leverage. Beijing’s tightening restrictions — temporarily suspended under a one-year truce brokered between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping — have heightened fears that China could disrupt supply chains for future Airbus and Boeing aircraft, while strengthening its domestic aerospace challenger, Comac.

    Safran chief executive Olivier Andriès said the Pitstone site was selected after developing the world’s first electric motor certified for aviation. The UK team will now focus on identifying substitutes for rare earths such as samarium, a key component of samarium-cobalt magnets used in high-temperature aerospace environments.

    “Electrical motors need magnets and magnets need rare earths, and most of these are coming from China,” Andriès said. “The target we’ve given the team is to find alternative sources of these materials — or even imagine rare-earth-free magnets. We don’t yet know the answer.”

    Andriès emphasised that rare-earth access has become an urgent strategic concern as the aerospace industry advances hybrid propulsion systems for next-generation airliners. Safran already relies on export licences from China to obtain the materials it needs and has built emergency stockpiles, but Andriès warned this is only a temporary buffer.

    “The supply chain has been weaponised — it’s an instrument of power,” he said. “The key point is to find alternative sources in the short term and, in the long term, find ways to deliver the same capabilities without using rare earths.”

    As part of its strategy, Safran will designate the UK as its first research and technology centre outside France, reinforcing the country’s role in the company’s global operations. Safran employs 5,500 people across 14 UK sites, producing components ranging from landing gear and helicopter engines to flight controls and engine casings. Pitstone will also host a new electric-motor assembly line.

    The renewed focus follows a surge in geopolitical competition for critical minerals. In October, the US signed an $8.5bn mining and processing agreement with Australia to expand Western rare-earth capabilities amid fears that China could cut off exports once the temporary truce expires.

    Andriès warned that while China has not yet deployed its dominance as a coercive tool, the risk remains significant: “Today, if China is willing to, they can interrupt the supply of most of the rare earths needed for automotive or aerospace applications.”

  • EU Unveils Multi-Billion-Euro Plan to Curb Dependence on China for Rare Earths Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

    EU Unveils Multi-Billion-Euro Plan to Curb Dependence on China for Rare Earths Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

    The European Union on Wednesday announced a sweeping multi-billion-euro initiative to reduce the bloc’s reliance on China for rare earths and other critical materials, as Beijing’s dominance and recent export restrictions continue to threaten European industry. China — the world’s largest producer of rare earths — unsettled global markets in October when it imposed new limits on rare earth exports used in electric vehicles, electronics, and defence technologies. Although Beijing later suspended the curbs for one year, the episode underscored the EU’s vulnerability.

    EU industry chief Stéphane Séjourné said the new measures respond to a “new global geopolitical reality,” describing China’s grip on the market as a raw-materials “racket.” The European Commission plans to mobilise nearly €3 billion to support strategic mining, refining and recycling projects across Europe and in partner countries, aiming to diversify supply and strengthen domestic production capacity.

    A key feature of the plan is the creation of a European Centre for Critical Raw Materials, modelled on Japan’s state-run metals agency. The centre will act as the EU’s supply hub, tasked with monitoring material needs, coordinating joint purchasing for member states, and managing stockpiles and emergency deliveries to industry.

    Brussels is also moving to restrict exports of permanent-magnet scrap and waste — materials that contain rare earths — beginning next year, in an effort to boost recycling and retain valuable feedstock within the EU. Targeted curbs on aluminium waste exports are also planned, with copper potentially to follow.

    The policy push comes just two years after the bloc adopted the Critical Raw Materials Act, but officials say the geopolitical landscape has changed rapidly. The EU now finds itself squeezed between China’s tightening resource controls and an increasingly assertive United States under President Donald Trump, which is aggressively pursuing bilateral deals to secure its own critical mineral supplies.

    A new survey from the EU Chamber of Commerce in China found 60% of member companies expect supply disruptions due to Chinese restrictions, while 13% warn they may have to slow or halt production altogether.

    The Commission also updated its economic security strategy, acknowledging that supply chains are being weaponised globally. EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič said the bloc must respond to a world in which “strategic choke points are turning economic dependency into political pressure.”

    The revised doctrine calls for more assertive use of existing tools — including foreign investment screening, export controls and supplier diversification — and for developing new measures where needed.

    “Europe will continue to champion open trade and global investment, but our openness must be backed by security,” Šefčovič said, emphasising a stronger EU capacity for economic intelligence and coordinated action across member states.