2025-03-26
The EU recently published its first list of strategic projects aimed at strengthening local mining, processing and recycling of 14 of the 17 materials that are critical to its energy transition and security. The selection of these 47 projects marks a key step in the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which sets targets for 2030, including that mining of these essential materials should account for 10% of the EU’s annual consumption, 40% of processing and 25% of recycling.
The selected projects cover 13 EU member states and focus on critical metals and minerals such as aluminum, boron, copper, cobalt, ore, lithium, nickel and rare earths. Of the 47 initiatives, 25 involve mining, 24 focus on processing, and 10 are committed to recycling, with some initiatives involving multiple functions.
