MINEX Forum

Website: Europe.com

  • UN Committee Rules Portugal Breached Treaty in Barroso Lithium Mine Approval

    UN Committee Rules Portugal Breached Treaty in Barroso Lithium Mine Approval

    Portugal violated international obligations by restricting public access to information during the environmental licensing of Europe’s largest lithium mining project, a UN committee ruled on Wednesday.

    The Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee found that the country’s environmental agency, APA, failed to uphold citizens’ rights to information and participation in the approval process for Savannah Resources’ Barroso project in northern Portugal. The Barroso region, recognized as a World Heritage agricultural site since 2018, has been at the center of a fierce debate between mining interests and local communities.

    In 2023, APA conditionally approved the mine, operated by London-listed Savannah Resources, but residents and environmental groups have continued to resist the project. They argue that the UN ruling reinforces their demand for the license to be revoked.

    According to the committee, APA did not respond to environmental information requests within legal deadlines and, when denying access, failed to inform citizens of their right to appeal. The complaint was lodged in 2021 by Spain’s Montescola Foundation, with two Portuguese groups acting as observers.

    Montescola President Joam Evans welcomed the ruling, saying, “The environmental permit should be revoked.”

    APA defended its actions, stating it had always complied with administrative law and made the required information available, albeit with a “different interpretation” of the convention. Savannah declined to comment.

    The miner has described Barroso’s spodumene deposit as Europe’s largest, with reserves of at least 28 million tonnes of high-grade lithium, and plans to begin production in 2027 to supply the electric vehicle sector.

  • Allied Critical Metals Hits High-Grade Tungsten at Borralha, Strengthening Europe’s Strategic Supply

    Allied Critical Metals Hits High-Grade Tungsten at Borralha, Strengthening Europe’s Strategic Supply

    Allied Critical Metals Inc. (CSE: ACM; OTCQB: ACMIF; FSE: 0VJ0) has reported one of the highest-grade tungsten intercepts in Western exploration, marking a breakthrough at its 100%-owned Borralha Tungsten Project in northern Portugal.

    Drill hole Bo_RC_14/25 returned 12.0 metres at 4.27% WO₃, including 6.0 metres at 8.39% WO₃ from 252 metres downhole. The result confirms visual observations of massive wolframite and highlights a high-grade breccia corridor within the mineralized system. Allied says the intercept validates its geological model and positions Borralha among Europe’s most promising undeveloped tungsten assets.

    More than 2,500 metres of drilling across nine holes have been completed, with visible wolframite and chalcopyrite encountered in several holes. Drilling, temporarily paused in August due to fire season restrictions, resumed September 1 with two rigs, aiming to complete 4,200 metres in Phase 1. An additional 1,528 metres of fully funded drilling is scheduled for Q4 2025.

    The campaign is designed to expand and upgrade resources under NI 43-101, collect material for metallurgical testing at 65% WO₃ concentrate grades, and deliver a Mineral Resource Estimate (Q4 2025) and Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) by year-end.

    The update comes as tungsten prices surge to $545 USD/MTU, up 40% in four months, amid growing demand and tightening Chinese export controls.

    “Allied’s exceptional tungsten grades place Borralha among Europe’s most exciting critical mineral projects,” CEO Roy Bonnell said. “We are confident this will become a cornerstone asset for Western supply chains at a time of heightened strategic need.”

    Borralha, a past-producing tungsten district, is advancing through environmental permitting, with a final decision expected by late 2025 or early 2026. Tungsten is classified as a Critical and Strategic Raw Material by both the EU and the US, vital for defense, AI, and EV technologies.

  • France’s EMILI Project: A Game-Changer for European Lithium Production

    France’s EMILI Project: A Game-Changer for European Lithium Production

    The EMILI project in Beauvoir, France, has taken a major step forward following the visit of Minister of Industry and Energy Marc Ferracci. Recognised as a project of major national interest, EMILI is home to Europe’s largest lithium deposit and the fourth largest globally.

    A recently completed pre-feasibility study revealed a higher-than-expected lithium grade, extending the project’s lifespan from 25 to 50 years. This long-term outlook cements EMILI’s role in bolstering European sovereignty over critical battery materials and supporting the continent’s electric vehicle ambitions.

    “Beneath our feet lies a lithium deposit recognised as a project of major national interest, the fourth largest in the world and the largest in Europe,” said Guillaume Delacroix, Senior Vice President Performance Minerals EMEA & APAC.

    EMILI benefits from France’s new regulatory framework that accelerates mining development, alongside eligibility for €200 million in tax credits once operations commence. With a focus on high environmental and social standards, the project is poised to become a cornerstone of Europe’s clean energy future.

    Learn more here.

  • Avrupa Minerals Regains Full Control of Sesmarias Project in Portugal

    Avrupa Minerals Regains Full Control of Sesmarias Project in Portugal

    Avrupa Minerals is reaffirming its commitment to the Sesmarias project in Portugal, even as it continues to expand its Finnish exploration portfolio. Sesmarias, the company’s flagship discovery since 2014, has seen significant progress through multiple joint ventures and self-funded efforts. Most recently, Sandfire MATSA supported exploration from 2020 to 2025, yielding impressive high-grade intercepts and expanding the project’s geological understanding.

    Despite these advancements, the project did not meet Sandfire MATSA’s internal criteria, leading to Avrupa regaining 100% ownership. With complex geology and promising mineralization—including intercepts like 26.95 meters @ 2.18% Cu and 28.60 meters @ 1.68% Cu—the company is now focused on securing a new strategic partner to advance towards a potential mining decision.

  • Germany’s Zinnwald Lithium Project Faces Local Backlash Over Tourism and Environmental Concerns

    Germany’s Zinnwald Lithium Project Faces Local Backlash Over Tourism and Environmental Concerns

    Plans to tap Europe’s second-largest lithium reserves are meeting resistance in the Ore Mountains, where residents are split over a proposed mining project that could bring jobs but also disrupt the local tourism economy.

    Privately held Zinnwald Lithium aims to begin extracting lithium-rich ore from the region in 2030, with the goal of producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide for Europe’s fast-growing electric vehicle and energy storage industries. The project promises hundreds of new jobs and fresh investment in an area with deep mining traditions.

    But in the border village of Zinnwald, opposition is mounting. Locals worry that large-scale mining will damage the scenic landscape that attracts thousands of tourists each year, threatening one of the region’s main sources of income. Environmental campaigners have also raised concerns about water use, waste, and long-term ecological impacts.

    Supporters argue the mine could revive the Ore Mountains’ historic role as a mining hub and help Europe reduce its reliance on imported critical raw materials. Yet with community resistance growing, the future of lithium production in Zinnwald remains uncertain.

  • Romania Seeks Five-Year Delay in Coal Phase-Out Amid Energy Transition Challenges

    Romania Seeks Five-Year Delay in Coal Phase-Out Amid Energy Transition Challenges

    Romania is negotiating with the European Commission to postpone its planned 2026 coal phase-out by at least five years, Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan said Tuesday, citing delays in replacement projects and risks to energy security.

    Under its EU-funded recovery aid package, Romania had pledged to retire 2.6 gigawatts of lignite and hard coal generation within the next year. However, Ivan told reporters that the timeline is “unrealistic,” as new gas-fired and renewable capacity will not be connected in time.

    State-owned lignite power producer CE Oltenia is working with OMV Petrom, Tinmar, and Alro Slatina to build solar parks and gas plants, but construction has lagged behind schedule. In central Romania, MAS Group Holding is also developing a 1.7 GW steam and gas power plant to replace older hard coal facilities.

    “Right now we are having fairly intense negotiations to postpone the deadline by at least five years, a realistic deadline for when we will connect new gas-fired energy units,” Ivan said. Romania has been requesting an extension since 2023 and plans to submit a study to Brussels outlining the negative economic and power market impacts of an early shutdown.

    Looking further ahead, Ivan said Romania expects to install 12.96 GW of new generation capacity by 2032 across gas, nuclear, wind, and solar projects, supported by EU funds and both public and private investment. This includes 2.25 GW of storage, which would transform the country from a net electricity importer to an exporter.

    A major offshore gas development, due online in 2027, is also set to make Romania a net gas exporter. The country already produces about 90% of its gas needs through Romgaz, OMV Petrom, and Black Sea Oil & Gas (BSOG).

  • Germany Surpasses 2028 Coal Reduction Target, No Forced Plant Closures Needed

    Germany Surpasses 2028 Coal Reduction Target, No Forced Plant Closures Needed

    Germany has already surpassed its 2028 interim goal for cutting coal-fired power capacity, eliminating the need to order additional plant shutdowns for a second consecutive year, the Federal Network Agency said Monday.

    The country had aimed to reduce coal generation by 8.7 gigawatts by 2028. As of September 1, capacity cuts had exceeded that figure by roughly 10%, according to the regulator’s update.

    Almost two-thirds of Germany’s electricity is now generated from renewable sources, with excess solar power often pushing wholesale prices below zero and eroding the profitability of coal plants. Despite this progress, Germany remains the European Union’s largest polluter and still relies heavily on fossil fuels for parts of its energy mix.

    The federal government plans to phase out coal entirely by 2038. However, large lignite-burning plants tied to mining operations have been granted more time to close in order to cushion job losses. Smaller lignite and hard-coal facilities, initially allowed to participate in voluntary shutdown auctions until 2026, can be closed earlier if deemed necessary by regulators.

    Coal operators must also buy emissions permits under the EU Emissions Trading System, where carbon prices have ranged between €60 and €84 per ton this year, settling near €74 at present.

  • Dundee Precious Metals Wins Court Approval for $1.25B Acquisition of Adriatic Metals

    Dundee Precious Metals Wins Court Approval for $1.25B Acquisition of Adriatic Metals

    Dundee Precious Metals (TSX: DPM) has received final UK court approval for its $1.25 billion cash-and-stock acquisition of Adriatic Metals (LON: ADT1), clearing the way for the deal to close this week. The High Court of Justice in England and Wales sanctioned the merger on Friday, with completion expected on Wednesday.

    Following the transaction, Dundee and Adriatic shareholders will hold 75.3% and 24.7% of the combined company respectively. Global headquarters will remain in Toronto, while Adriatic’s UK office will shut down. Dundee has also secured approval for a listing on the Australian exchange, with quotation details to follow.

    The acquisition expands Dundee’s Balkan footprint by adding Adriatic’s flagship Vareš silver-zinc mine in Bosnia and the Raška project in Serbia. The Vareš operation, which produced its first concentrate in early 2024, is Europe’s first new mine in over a decade. It has a projected 15-year life, supported by an ore reserve of 12.3 million tonnes grading 192 g/t silver and 5.7% zinc, with annual output capacity of 90,000 tonnes of zinc concentrates and 65,000 tonnes of silver-lead concentrates.

    “The Vareš is a logical fit with our portfolio, and adds near-term production growth and mine life, a highly prospective land package, and cash flow diversification,” Dundee CEO David Rae said at the time of the acquisition announcement in June.

    Adriatic acquired Vareš in 2017 with the aim of reviving a historic silver mine abandoned during the 1990s Balkan conflict. Its integration into Dundee’s portfolio positions the Canadian miner for stronger production growth and broader commodity exposure.

  • Germany Urges EU Action to Curb Copper Scrap Exports to China

    Germany Urges EU Action to Curb Copper Scrap Exports to China

    Germany’s Economy Minister Katherina Reiche has called on the European Union to act against “huge” flows of copper scrap being shipped to China, warning that European smelters are losing access to vital raw materials.

    “The Chinese are buying copper scrap from the market in huge quantities,” Reiche said at a Siemens Energy event in Berlin on Monday. “Large German copper smelters are no longer getting any raw materials.”

    Reiche urged the creation of EU-wide policies to stop China from outbidding European firms for scrap, framing the issue as part of a broader push to strengthen Europe’s economic resilience. She did not outline specific restrictions but said the debate should sit alongside Europe’s wider trade and industrial policies.

    The remarks underscore how global commodities supply chains are becoming increasingly politicized, a trend sharpened by US President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies. Any EU move to limit copper scrap exports would add to existing trade tensions with Beijing, already strained over Chinese electric vehicle exports.

    China has steadily increased scrap copper imports over the past five years as its smelters expand production and mined ore becomes more expensive. With US shipments collapsing this year, Chinese buyers have turned to other markets, including Europe. Imports from EU nations hit 204,000 tons in the first seven months of 2025, up 3.5% year-on-year, representing about 15% of China’s total scrap intake.

    Reiche also emphasized the need for Europe to promote domestic mining of lithium and rare earths, critical to energy transition technologies, to reduce reliance on external suppliers.

  • Kiruna Seeks Government Help as Iron Ore Mine Expansion Forces Relocation of One-Third of Residents

    Kiruna Seeks Government Help as Iron Ore Mine Expansion Forces Relocation of One-Third of Residents

    The Arctic town of Kiruna, already known for its unprecedented relocation to accommodate mining activity, now faces another massive move. Municipal officials say 2,700 additional homes and some 6,000 residents — a third of the town’s population — will need to be relocated over the next decade due to the planned expansion of LKAB’s giant underground iron ore mine.

    “I call on the Swedish government to contact Kiruna municipality as quickly as possible. We can’t manage without help from the state and the government in this situation,” municipal leader Mats Taaveniku told reporters on Friday.

    State-owned miner LKAB, which operates the world’s largest underground iron ore mine, confirmed in updated forecasts on Thursday that relocation must begin immediately to secure operations until and beyond 2035.

    The latest phase follows earlier moves: in 2022, a new retail district opened 3 km from the original town center, and just this month Kiruna’s historic church was physically transported to a new location.

    Sweden’s Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch, said the government had contacted the municipality and acknowledged the complexity of balancing “different national interests.” She emphasized that LKAB had committed to providing compensation and welcomed the company’s continued investments in Norrbotten, which she said would safeguard jobs and reduce reliance on “dangerous states” for raw materials.