MINEX Forum

Website: Europe.com

  • Kazakhstan’s Science Minister Challenges EU to Treat Country as Research Partner, Not Just a Critical Minerals Quarry

    Kazakhstan’s Science Minister Challenges EU to Treat Country as Research Partner, Not Just a Critical Minerals Quarry

    Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek has issued a pointed challenge to the European Union, arguing that Brussels’ €12 billion Global Gateway package for Central Asia contains a fundamental strategic blind spot: every euro is directed at what can be extracted from or moved across the region, with nothing allocated to what can be created with it.

    Writing in an opinion piece, Nurbek welcomed the EU’s most ambitious opening to Central Asia in a generation — the Samarkand summit, the critical raw materials declaration, the Middle Corridor investment — but argued that treating Kazakhstan purely as a deposit and transit route risks replicating in the research domain exactly the dependency trap the EU says it wants to escape in critical minerals. “A partnership that imports Kazakh lithium while ignoring Kazakh laboratories repeats, in the research domain, exactly the dependency trap the EU says it wants to escape,” he writes.

    The minister argues Kazakhstan brings more to the table than Brussels currently assumes. The country has overhauled its research infrastructure over three years with a new Law on Science and Technological Policy, digitalised competitive research funding, expanded open science, and a legally binding commitment to raise R&D spending to 1% of GDP by 2029. Nearly half of Kazakhstan’s researchers are under 40 — a demographic profile most EU research systems cannot match. Approximately 40 foreign university partnerships now operate on Kazakhstani soil, including Cardiff University, Heriot-Watt, and European institutions from France, Italy and Germany.

    On artificial intelligence, Nurbek says the gap between perception and reality is widest. Kazakhstan’s national supercomputer Alem.cloud runs on NVIDIA H200 GPUs and is the largest computing cluster in Central Asia, supporting a nationally trained large language model and one of the world’s largest sovereign ChatGPT Edu agreements. “This is sovereign compute of a kind most EU member states do not possess,” he writes.

    The minister frames Kazakhstan’s active research priorities — green transition, critical raw materials, water security, climate adaptation, AI and life sciences — as directly aligned with the EU’s own agenda, pursued from a geography offering field conditions and data Europe cannot reproduce: the Caspian, the steppe and the glaciers of the Tien Shan. He also points to Kazakhstan’s track record operating the International Science and Technology Centre in Astana under governance standards comparable to Horizon Europe requirements.

    The specific ask is concrete: association to Horizon Europe and its successor framework — the same structured route already available to the UK, Canada and New Zealand — alongside two-way researcher mobility, shared research infrastructure access, functioning technology transfer mechanisms and a seat in joint agenda-setting.

    “Research association is not a soft add-on to the Global Gateway,” Nurbek concludes. “It is what turns a supply deal into a development partnership.”

  • Slovakia Revokes Military Metals’ Trojarova Antimony Licence Without Explanation, Sending Shares Down 60%

    Slovakia Revokes Military Metals’ Trojarova Antimony Licence Without Explanation, Sending Shares Down 60%

    Military Metals Corp has suffered a potentially devastating setback at its flagship European asset after Slovakia’s Ministry of the Environment revoked the exploration licence for the Trojarova antimony-gold project near Bratislava without providing clear justification — a decision that sent the company’s shares sliding by up to 60% to a 52-week low on Friday.

    The revocation is particularly striking given its timing and context. The ministry’s decision came just weeks after Military Metals filed the NI 43-101 technical report supporting a maiden inferred mineral resource estimate of 6.5 million tonnes grading 1.02% antimony and 1.06 grams per tonne gold, containing 67,000 tonnes of antimony and 222,000 ounces of gold. The MRE had been published on 8 April, with analyst Christopher Ecclestone of Hallgarten & Company highlighting its strategic importance for Europe’s critical minerals needs and the value of the project’s existing Soviet-era underground infrastructure. The licence revocation also came despite Trojarova having been listed in Slovakia’s own National Program for the Exploration of Critical Mineral Raw Materials.

    Military Metals has announced it will appeal the decision within the 15-day statutory window and pursue all available legal options. The company described the revocation as inconsistent with Europe’s stated goals for secure critical mineral supply chains — a pointed observation given that antimony has been subject to Chinese export controls since September 2024, causing prices to double and exposing Western defence and semiconductor supply chains to acute vulnerability.

    Trojarova’s strategic case rests on antimony’s role in hardening lead for ammunition, flame retardants in military equipment, infrared detectors, semiconductors and next-generation batteries. The project’s location near Bratislava and its extensive historical workings were seen as advantages that could accelerate development and reduce costs relative to greenfield projects.

    While the legal battle proceeds in Slovakia, Military Metals is continuing exploration at its North American assets — the Last Chance antimony property in Nye County, Nevada, with a history of production, and the West Gore antimony-gold property in Nova Scotia, which produced during the First World War.

  • Is there still a future for green steel in Europe? [Jones, Blanpain, Aiello, RM #2]

    Is there still a future for green steel in Europe? [Jones, Blanpain, Aiello, RM #2]

    The Future of Green Steelmaking in Europe (Part I)

    Steel might not always make the list of “critical raw materials,” but it’s absolutely critical to Europe’s future – supporting everything from wind turbines to transport infrastructure. Without steel, no civilisation! In this Special Raw Matters Episode on “The future of green steelmaking in Europe”, the speakers unpack why decarbonising steel matters so much, and what it will take to get there.

    The conversation features Adolfo Aiello, Deputy Director General at The European Steel Association (EUROFER), alongside Raw Matters regular co-host Peter Tom Jones and guest co-host Prof. Bart Blanpain (SIM² KU Leuven & expert in steelmaking).

    The episode explores the different routes towards climate-neutral steelmaking, while also discussing the business case for green steel in today’s world of Fortresses, where state subsidies and export dumping are common place. Will CBAM and ETS save Europe?

  • How China can switch off Europe’s wind turbines [Alberic Mongrenier, RM #6]

    How China can switch off Europe’s wind turbines [Alberic Mongrenier, RM #6]

    “Minerals, Missiles and Megawatts: Europe’s Strategic Vulnerability”. A new Raw Matters podcast with Alberic Mongrenier, Julia Poliscanova and Peter Tom Jones, on the Mineral Security Trap and why Europe can’t afford naivety.

    SUMMARY
    In Episode #6 of RAW MATTERS, hosts Julia Poliscanova and Peter Tom Jones speak with Albéric Mongrenier, Executive Director of the European Initiative for Energy Security (EIES). Together, they explore how critical raw materials, energy security, cybersecurity, and military demand are becoming tightly interlinked in today’s unstable geopolitical landscape.

    The conversation examines how CRMs underpin both the clean‑energy transition – from wind turbines and batteries to electrolysers – and the defence sector, including F‑35 fighter jets, drones and missile systems. Albéric also highlights a growing blind spot in Europe: the cybersecurity risks created by widespread dependence on Chinese inverters and digital components in solar panels, wind turbines, EVs and grid infrastructure. This reliance gives external actors potential leverage over Europe’s electricity systems, from data harvesting to the theoretical ability to trigger grid‑level disruptions. As Albéric notes, Europe remains surprisingly naïve about these vulnerabilities.

    The episode further contrasts the strategic responses of the US and EU, from the Trump-led (aggressive) top-down mineral partnerships and state capitalist measures to Europe’s (timid) efforts to strengthen its energy, digital and military resilience.

    Albéric Mongrenier
    Albéric serves as Executive Director of EIES, the European Initiative for Energy Security, where he develops and builds support for national and supra-national policies that drive energy and national security across the European continent. Albéric is an energy policy expert with over a dozen years of experience at the intersection of energy and security.

    RAW MATTERS is your podcast about the critical minerals that determine our common future. Hosted by Peter Tom Jones (Director SIM2 KU Leuven) and Julia Poliscanova (she/her) (Senior Director at T&E) and directed by Stijn van Baarle, the podcast brings together leading voices from around the world.

  • Finland’s Mining Cluster Targets Global Export Growth as New CEO Sets Sights on Critical Minerals and Sustainable Technology

    Finland’s Mining Cluster Targets Global Export Growth as New CEO Sets Sights on Critical Minerals and Sustainable Technology

    Finland is positioning itself as a leading exporter of mining technology, services and expertise as the country’s underexplored geological potential and world-class research infrastructure attract growing international attention, according to the newly appointed chief executive of Mining Finland.

    Aleksi Salo, who took the role in November 2025, says the association’s 130-member cluster — spanning more than ten universities, research organisations and over 200 technology and service providers — offers a compelling proposition for international markets seeking sustainable and responsible mining solutions. “In this role, I believe I can have a positive impact on the growth of business and the Finnish mining sector as a whole,” Salo told Mining Technology.

    Finland sits on the Fennoscandian Shield, which bears strong geological similarities to the Canadian Shield and the cratonic regions of Southern Africa and Western Australia. The shield hosts world-class deposits of iron, nickel, copper, platinum group metals and gold, yet the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt in the north remains largely unexplored and is considered to have significant gold potential. The country is consistently rated among the world’s most attractive mining jurisdictions for its combination of geological endowment, accessible data and innovation ecosystem.

    Salo identified promoting Finnish water management technologies, mineral processing capabilities and original equipment manufacturers in international markets as key priorities. For small and medium-sized enterprises that cannot afford their own presence at major conferences and trade fairs, Mining Finland’s brand recognition provides an important market entry vehicle. The association works with Business Finland and the Team Finland network to organise delegations and market-specific webinars, connecting Finnish companies with potential partners and clients abroad.

    On Finland’s domestic mining outlook, Salo expressed cautious optimism. Several gold and platinum projects are realistic candidates for production by 2030, alongside expansion projects at existing operations, though he flagged the regulatory environment — and court appeal processes in particular — as a potential source of delay. A recently introduced mineral tax has also created uncertainty for some larger operating mines.

    Looking ahead, Salo said he hoped to see greater investment flowing to junior explorers and miners in Finland over the next four years, and called on the industry to communicate its economic significance and value chain contribution more effectively to the broader public

  • Yugo Metals Confirms Gold Discovery at First-Ever Drilling Campaign in Bosnia as Erak Prospect Shows Open Mineralisation in All Directions

    Yugo Metals Confirms Gold Discovery at First-Ever Drilling Campaign in Bosnia as Erak Prospect Shows Open Mineralisation in All Directions

    Yugo Metals has intersected gold across multiple holes in its first drilling campaign at the Erak prospect within the Sinjakovo Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with CEO Petar Tomašević declaring the results confirm a genuine gold discovery.

    Five holes totalling 632 metres have been drilled to date, returning intervals including 4 metres at 1.2 grams per tonne gold from 101 metres, 4 metres at 1.9 grams per tonne from 105.1 metres, 8 metres at 1.2 grams per tonne gold equivalent from 26.1 metres, and 3 metres at 0.9 grams per tonne from 107.4 metres. The gold-bearing mineralisation is associated with phyllic alteration striking east-west, dipping north, and open in all directions. Drilling has also intersected gold-silver-copper-antimony mineralisation of up to 8 metres at 1.2 grams per tonne gold equivalent, including intervals carrying 40 grams per tonne silver, 0.6% copper and 0.25% antimony.

    Two further holes — ERDD005 and ERDD006 — have intersected alteration zones of 23 metres and 34 metres respectively, with assay results still pending from the laboratory in six to eight weeks. Tomašević noted that the thickest alteration intervals are among those still awaiting results, suggesting the overall system could grow considerably.

    The drill rig has now moved to pad three to test a previous trenching result of 61 metres at 1.5 grams per tonne gold at surface — the company’s strongest surface result to date. Further drilling is planned in the western area before the rig relocates to the eastern section of Erak.

    The Sinjakovo Project spans 80 square kilometres across two tenements in Republika Srpska and targets gold, antimony, silver, copper, cobalt, zinc and lead across multiple prospects.

  • EU Designates Spain’s Mina Doade Lithium Project as Strategic Under Critical Raw Materials Act

    EU Designates Spain’s Mina Doade Lithium Project as Strategic Under Critical Raw Materials Act

    The Mina Doade lithium project in Galicia, northwest Spain, has been designated a Strategic Project by the European Union under the Critical Raw Materials Act, placing it among 47 projects selected in the first strategic list as the bloc moves to build domestic supply chains for materials essential to the automotive, technology and industrial sectors.

    The designation, awarded to project developer Recursos Minerales de Galicia S.A., reflects both the strategic importance of lithium to European industry and the supply risk associated with the metal — a risk assessed as high given the concentration of global production in a limited number of countries and the material’s limited substitutability in applications such as EV batteries.

    Under the CRMA framework, which entered into force in May 2024, Strategic Project status unlocks significant practical advantages. Projects on the list gain access to accelerated permitting processes, with approvals available within a maximum of 27 months, and receive priority consideration for financing. These streamlined procedures are designed to close the gap between Europe’s geological potential and its current near-total dependence on imported lithium, almost entirely refined in China.

    Spain holds significant lithium resources across Galicia, Extremadura and Castilla y León, and sits alongside northern Portugal as one of the Iberian Peninsula’s most promising lithium jurisdictions. The Doade-Beariz area in Galicia has been identified as one of the most prospective sites, and the project’s inclusion on the EU’s first strategic list is seen as confirmation of its technical quality and alignment with European sustainability and supply security objectives.

  • Uzbekistan Returns to Gold Export Markets With $1.5 Billion in Shipments as Record Prices Near $4,800 Per Ounce Drive Sales

    Uzbekistan Returns to Gold Export Markets With $1.5 Billion in Shipments as Record Prices Near $4,800 Per Ounce Drive Sales

    Uzbekistan has resumed full-scale gold exports after an extended period of accumulation, shipping approximately $1.5 billion worth of non-monetary gold in the first four months of 2026, with the bulk of shipments concentrated in April as the country moved to capitalise on gold prices hovering near historic highs of around $4,800 per ounce.

    The country had effectively suspended gold exports since September 2025, with January and February 2026 recording zero shipments and March producing only $30 million in sales. During that period, Uzbekistan’s central bank had emerged as one of the largest buyers on the global gold market, building up reserves. The reversal came in April, when central bank reserves declined by approximately 100,000 ounces, signalling a deliberate decision to begin monetising accumulated holdings.

    Uzbekistan produces approximately 130 tonnes of gold annually, making it one of the world’s significant producers. Gold remains a central pillar of the country’s export earnings and fiscal revenues, and the timing of the resumption appears calculated to take maximum advantage of elevated market conditions. At current prices, the economic incentive to sell is considerable.

    The decision to resume exports comes despite — or perhaps because of — heightened global uncertainty stemming from the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Central Asian economies including Uzbekistan’s have shown relative resilience to external shocks, and officials appear to have judged that the combination of high prices and stable domestic conditions makes this an opportune moment to strengthen the national budget without waiting for geopolitical tensions to fully resolve.

  • Serbia Secures €953 Million in New Chinese Investments During Vučić State Visit, Including Humanoid Robot Production From July

    Serbia Secures €953 Million in New Chinese Investments During Vučić State Visit, Including Humanoid Robot Production From July

    Serbia has secured €953 million ($1.1 billion) in new investment commitments from Chinese companies during President Aleksandar Vučić’s state visit to China, with projects spanning automotive manufacturing, advanced technology and artificial intelligence set to create 1,650 jobs across multiple Serbian cities.

    Vučić announced the agreements following meetings with local firms and a visit to the innovation centre of Hong Kong-listed car parts manufacturer Minth Group in Jiaxing. The investments will be spread across Niš, Novi Sad, Zrenjanin, Šabac, Ćuprija and Inđija.

    Among the most notable announcements is a phased technology investment that will see humanoid robot production begin as early as July, followed by the construction of data factories and AI training centres for the robots, and ultimately the application of artificial intelligence across production systems. Vučić did not identify the investor or provide further financial details.

    The largest single contract was signed with tyre maker Linglong for €566 million, which will create 400 new jobs at its existing factory in Zrenjanin. Minth Group signed two agreements: a €135 million deal creating 600 jobs at its Loznica plant and a €91 million investment adding 220 jobs in Šabac. Xingyu Automotive committed €77 million and 100 new jobs in Niš, while automotive chassis manufacturer SHAK will invest €33.5 million in Novi Sad, creating 50 jobs. Car parts maker Yusei announced a €27 million investment for its second Niš factory bringing 280 new jobs, and BMTS Technology signed a €13.3 million automation-focused agreement.

    The deals add to an already substantial Chinese economic footprint in Serbia. According to Serbian Chamber of Commerce president Marko Cadez, approximately 2,000 firms with Chinese capital currently operate in the country, with the 37 largest having invested around €7.7 billion and employed more than 40,000 people. Zijin Mining and steelmaker HBIS Group are among the largest investors.

    Vučić’s visit to China also included a meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where more than 20 cooperation documents were signed, marking the tenth anniversary of the China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership.

  • Europe Could Meet More Than Half Its Critical Minerals Demand Through Recycling by 2050, Major EU Study Finds

    Europe Could Meet More Than Half Its Critical Minerals Demand Through Recycling by 2050, Major EU Study Finds

    Recovering critical minerals from used batteries, end-of-life vehicles and electronic waste could supply more than half of Europe’s critical minerals demand by 2050, according to a major new report — offering the continent a substantial route to reducing its dependence on Chinese-dominated supply chains without relying solely on new mining.

    The findings come from the FutuRaM project, a European Union-funded research initiative that analysed Europe’s recycling potential across three scenarios. In 2022, approximately 2 million metric tonnes of critical minerals were contained in waste generated across the 27 EU member states plus Switzerland, Norway, the UK and Iceland. That figure is projected to grow to up to 6 million tonnes by 2050 as the stock of clean energy technologies — from EV batteries to wind turbines — reaches end of life. If the secondary raw materials already being collected were fully and functionally recycled, they could supply up to 56% of Europe’s critical minerals demand by 2050.

    The study identifies end-of-life electric vehicles as the single largest contributor to this recycling potential, containing a variety of rare earth elements with high recoverability. However, despite relatively high vehicle collection rates in the EU, most of the minerals contained in them are not currently being processed. Lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements are among the materials most commonly lost during collection or waste processing today.

    Kees Baldé, a senior researcher at the UN Institute for Training and Research and one of the report’s authors, described harnessing Europe’s waste streams as essential for strengthening supply security and supporting the clean energy transition. The report calls for a structural shift in European waste management, noting that countries currently track these materials differently and lack a unified regional market. It also recommends increased investment in recycling infrastructure, skills development and awareness.

    The urgency is amplified by China’s position. China holds a firm grip on the production and refining of 19 out of 20 critical minerals identified by the IEA and accounts for approximately 80% of the world’s mineral recovery capacity. In the past year, Beijing has enacted export controls on rare earths, rare earth magnet components and lithium battery components, raising costs and supply security concerns across European industry. The IEA estimates that scaling up recycling globally could reduce the need for new mining by 25 to 40% by 2050 under climate-aligned scenarios.

    Pascal Leroy of the WEEE Forum said the findings demanded a fundamental mindset shift: “Our mindset needs to shift to think of secondary sources of CRMs as the new primary source.”