EU Selects 13 Strategic Raw Material Projects Outside the Bloc

EU strategic raw material projects

EU Seeks to Diversify Critical Mineral Supply Chains

The European Commission has approved 13 strategic raw material projects outside the European Union, estimating a total capital investment of €5.5bn ($6.26bn) to bring them online. Chosen from 49 applications, these projects span Brazil, Canada, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Malawi, New Caledonia, Norway, Serbia, South Africa, the UK, Ukraine, and Zambia. Under the 2024 EU Raw Materials Act, the bloc aims by 2030 to domestically extract 10pc, process 40pc, and recycle 25pc of 17 strategic raw materials. Additionally, no single third country should supply more than 65pc of annual EU consumption.

Targeting Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, and Rare Earths

Ten of the approved projects focus on lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite, while two — Songwe Hill in Malawi and Zandkopsdrift in South Africa — will extract rare earth elements. Other notable initiatives include Rio Tinto’s Jadar lithium and boron project in Serbia, the Integrated Dumont Nickel Project in Canada, Kobaloni Energy’s cobalt processing in Zambia, and Balakhivka Graphite Deposit in Ukraine. The EU will provide coordinated support, including facilitating finance and connecting projects with potential off-takers. Industrial commissioner Stephane Sejourne emphasised that diversifying away from dependency on countries like China is critical, given current reliance levels exceeding 100pc in some refining and recycling segments.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The EU’s latest selections mark a significant expansion of its global strategic raw material network, signalling an urgent push to secure supplies ahead of the 2030 targets. While the €5.5bn investment is substantial, long-term success will depend on execution speed, environmental considerations, and stable geopolitical relations with host nations.