The European Union is facing significant challenges in achieving its goals for critical raw materials (CRMs), which are essential for the continent’s clean energy transition and technology-driven future.
These materials are vital for manufacturing batteries, electronic devices, and renewable energy infrastructure, playing a central role in the EU’s strategy to reduce reliance on external markets and promote a sustainable, circular economy.
To address these challenges, the RAWMINA project was launched in 2021. Funded by €9 million from Horizon Europe, this initiative brings together 19 specialized partners from 10 countries, including those in the EU, the UK and South America. The project’s objective is to develop innovative and sustainable processes for extracting CRMs from existing mine waste.
Diego Morillo MartÃn, Project Coordinator at LEITAT—a technology center focused on developing and transferring technologies—highlighted the project’s importance: “RAWMINA has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of a continuous, scalable system that integrates multiple innovative technologies for efficient and sustainable metal recovery from mine waste. This sets a new standard for the mining industry and emphasizes the potential of circular economy practices.”
As RAWMINA approaches its conclusion, it will culminate in a conference in Barcelona, co-organized by LEITAT and the Autonomous University of Barcelona. This event will showcase the project’s achievements and promote discussions on the future of CRM recovery.
Despite the innovative approaches exemplified by RAWMINA, the EU faces substantial hurdles in meeting the targets outlined in its Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which came into effect in May 2024. The Act sets ambitious goals for domestic production of critical minerals by 2030: 10% of annual needs mined, 25% recycled, and 40% processed within the EU.
However, forecasts suggest that these targets may be difficult to achieve, potentially jeopardizing the EU’s zero-carbon objectives and its goal to decrease reliance on China, which currently supplies 98% of the EU’s rare earth permanent-magnet imports.
Johanna Bernsel, a spokesperson for the European Commission, acknowledged the challenges but affirmed the EU’s commitment: “We will do our utmost to support projects that align with the CRMA goals. Initiatives in Europe will benefit from a streamlined permitting process, coordinated support for accessing de-risking financing tools, and matchmaking with downstream users.”
Mining industry response and future outlook
The introduction of the CRMA has already led to increased investment in mining and processing projects within the EU. Member states are revising their regulatory frameworks to facilitate domestic extraction, while companies are exploring opportunities to establish processing facilities. The legislation has also spurred research into alternative technologies and recycling methods.
Despite these efforts, the path forward remains challenging. EU demand for rare earth minerals is expected to increase six-fold by 2030 and seven-fold by 2050, highlighting the urgent need to develop robust, sustainable supply chains.
As the EU navigates these complex challenges, projects like RAWMINA provide promising solutions. Diego Morillo MartÃn concluded, “By fostering dialogue with stakeholders and the public, we aim to build trust and support for sustainable mining practices and encourage collaboration and market development.”
