Commission Decision (EU) 2025/840

Contents

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020^note, and in particular Article 7(9) thereof,Whereas:

(1)Pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 and in view of securing the Union’s supply of critical raw materials, the Commission is to identify projects for the extraction, processing, recycling or substitution of strategic raw materials, with the aim of recognising such projects as Strategic Projects under the framework laid down in Article 7 of that Regulation.

(2)In accordance with Article 7(3) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, the Commission launched on 23 May 2024 a call to apply for the recognition of a critical raw material project as a Strategic Project^note, with a cut-off date on 22 August 2024.

(3)Following the submission of applications, the Commission informed the applicants on 20 September 2024 whether the information provided was considered complete in accordance with Article 7(4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252. Where an application was deemed to be incomplete, the Commission requested the applicant to submit additional information necessary to complete the application, within a short deadline.

(4)At the time of the cut-off date on 22 August 2024, 124 applications were submitted from proposed projects located in Member States, 122 of which the Commission considered complete in accordance with Article 7(1) and (4) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252.

(5)In accordance with Article 7(5) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, the Commission informed the European Critical Raw Materials Board (the Board) established by Article 35(1) of that Regulation of the applications the Commission considered complete.

(6)After that completeness check, the Commission transmitted, in accordance with Article 7(8) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, the full applications to Member States whose territory is concerned by the proposed project.

(7)The Commission assessed those applications in accordance with the criteria specified in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, with the support of external experts with professional expertise in the technical, financial, environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions of a project, as well as in the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC)^note. The Commission assessed the applications that clearly did not meet the assessment criteria set out in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 without the support of those external experts. The external experts’ consolidated opinion formed the basis for this Decision.

(8)In particular, the Commission assessed those applications in light of their contribution to the security of the Union’s supply of strategic raw materials, technical feasibility, sustainable implementation, and cross-border benefits and listed in the Annex to this Decision the projects that fulfil all the criteria provided for in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, and which should therefore be recognised as Strategic Projects under that Regulation.

(9)The Commission provided the Board with its assessment in accordance with Article 7(6), second subparagraph of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252. None of the projects listed in the Annex to this Decision received an objection from the Member States whose territory is concerned by the proposed projects, in accordance with Article 7(8) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252.

(10)The Commission should notify all applicants for the recognition of a project as Strategic Project of the adoption of this Decision. In particular, the Commission should notify all applicants of the result of its assessment and the reasoning thereof in accordance with the protection of trade and business secrets and other sensitive, confidential and classified information, as provided for in Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252.

(11)The Commission should also provide this Decision to the Board and to the Member State(s)whose territory is concerned by the project(s), in accordance with Article 7(9), second subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252.

(12)This Decision is in accordance with the opinion of the Board,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 #

The projects listed in the Annex are recognised as Strategic Projects.

Article 2 #

List of strategic projects

(1)Ageli is an ongoing integrated extraction and processing project in France. The project promoted by Eramet aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

(2)Aguablanca project is an ongoing extraction project in Spain. The project promoted by Rio Narcea Recursos S.A. aims to contribute to the supply of cobalt, platinum group metals, copper and nickel (battery grade).

(3)Alpha Project is an ongoing recycling project in Italy. The project promoted by Solvay Chimica Italia Spa aims to contribute to the supply of platinum group metals.

(4)BAM4EVER (Phase I&II) is an ongoing processing project in France. The project promoted by Tokai COBEX savoie aims to contribute to the supply of graphite (battery grade).

(5)Barroso Lithium Project is an ongoing extraction project in Portugal. The project promoted by Savannah Lithium, Unipessoal, Lda. aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

(6)BAUX-EU, GALLANT and LEADER project is an ongoing integrated project consisting of one extraction (BAUX-EU) and two processing components (GALLENT and LEADER) in Greece. The project promoted by Metlen Energy & Metals and European Bauxites aims to contribute to the supply of bauxite/alumina/aluminium and gallium.

(7)CAREMAG is an ongoing processing project in France. The project promoted by Caremag SAS aims to contribute to the supply of rare earth elements for magnets and boron (metallurgy grade).

(8)Chvaletice Manganese Project is an ongoing integrated extraction and processing project in Czechia. The project promoted by Euro Manganese Inc aims to contribute to the supply of manganese (battery grade).

(9)Cínovec lithium project is an ongoing integrated extraction and processing project in Czechia. The project promoted by Geomet s.r.o. aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

(10)CirCular is an ongoing recycling project in Spain. The project promoted by Atlantic Copper SLU aims to contribute to the supply of copper, nickel and platinum group metals.

(11)CO2Graphite is an ongoing processing project in Estonia. The project promoted by UP Catalyst OU aims to contribute to the supply of graphite (battery grade).

(12)EMILI is an ongoing integrated extraction and processing project in France. The project promoted by IMERYS Ceramics France and IMERYS Lithium France aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

(13)European Initiative for Strategic and Sustainable Graphite Production is an ongoing processing project in France, Namibia and Germany. The project promoted by NGC Battery Materials GmbH aims to contribute to the supply of graphite (battery grade).

(14)GePETO is an ongoing processing project in Belgium. The project promoted by Umicore aims to contribute to the supply of germanium.

(15)GALLICAM is an ongoing processing project in France. The project promoted by Sibanye-Stillwater Sandouville Refinery aims to contribute to the supply of nickel (battery grade), cobalt, lithium (battery grade), graphite (battery grade), manganese (battery grade) and copper.

(16)Hycamite TCD Technologies Ltd is an ongoing processing project in Finland. The project promoted by Hycamite TCD Technologies Ltd aims to contribute to the supply of graphite (battery grade).

(17)Hydrometallurgy is an ongoing recycling project in France. The project promoted by Orano Batteries aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade), cobalt, nickel (battery grade), manganese (battery grade) and graphite (battery grade).

(18)Jervois Finland Cobalt Refinery Expansion Project is an ongoing processing project in Finland. The project promoted by Jervois Finland Oy aims to contribute to the supply of cobalt.

(19)KELIBER LITHIUM is an ongoing integrated extraction and processing project in Finland. The project promoted by Keliber Technology Oy aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

(20)Kolmisoppi is an ongoing extraction project in Finland. The project promoted by Terrafame Ltd. aims to contribute to the supply of nickel (battery grade) and cobalt.

(21)Las Navas is an ongoing extraction project in Spain. The project promoted by Lithium Iberia S.L. aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

(22)LIFE22-ENV- IT-INSPIREE is an ongoing recycling project in Italy. The project promoted by Itelyum Regeneration SpA aims to contribute to the supply of rare earth elements for magnets.

(23)Lift One is an ongoing processing project in Portugal. The project promoted by Lifthium energy S.A. aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

(24)Lithium Hydroxide Converter Guben is an ongoing processing project in Germany. The project promoted by Rock Tech Guben GmbH aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

(25)MagFactory is an ongoing recycling project in France. The project promoted by MagREEsource aims to contribute to the supply of rare earth elements for magnets.

(26)MINA DOADE PROJECT is an ongoing extraction project in Spain. The project promoted by Recursos Minerales de Galicia S.A. aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

(27)Mining Project El Moto is an ongoing extraction project in Spain. The project promoted by Abenojar Tungsten S.L. aims to contribute to the supply of tungsten.

(28)NorthCYCLE is an ongoing recycling project in Sweden. The project promoted by Northvolt Revolt AB aims to contribute to the supply of manganese (battery grade), lithium (battery grade), graphite (battery grade), nickel (battery grade) and cobalt.

(29)Lombador North Phase 2, Semblana and 3rd SILO project is an ongoing integrated project consisting of two extraction (Lombador North Phase 2 and Semblana) and one processing components (3^rd SILO) in Portugal. The project promoted by SOMINCOR aims to contribute to the supply of copper.

(30)P6 Metals is an ongoing integrated extraction and processing project in Spain. The project promoted by Iberian Resources Spain aims to contribute to the supply of tungsten.

(31)POLVOLT is an ongoing recycling project in Poland. The project promoted by Elemental Battery Metals SP. z.o.o. aims to contribute to the supply of nickel (battery grade), copper, cobalt, lithium (battery grade), platinum group metals and manganese (battery grade).

(32)Polymetallic primary sulphide project is an ongoing integrated extraction and processing project in Spain. The project promoted by Cobre las Cruces S.A.U. aims to contribute to the supply of copper.

(33)Portovesme CRM Hub is an ongoing recycling project in Italy. The project promoted by Portovesme s.r.l. aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade) and manganese (battery grade).

(34)ProHiPerSi is an ongoing substitution project in Germany. The project promoted by PCC Thorion GmbH aims to contribute to the substitution of graphite (battery grade).

(35)Project Fortum Hydromet is an ongoing recycling project in Finland. The project promoted by Fortum Battery Recycling Oy aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade), graphite (battery grade), copper, nickel (battery grade) and cobalt.

(36)Pulawy Rare Earths Separation Plant is an ongoing processing project in Poland. The project promoted by Mkango Resources Ltd. aims to contribute to the supply of rare earth elements for magnets.

(37)RECOVER-IT is an ongoing recycling project in Italy. The project promoted by Circular Materials s.r.l. aims to contribute to the supply of copper, nickel (battery grade) and platinum group metals.

(38)ReeMAP Project: Malmberget, Per Geijer and Lulea Industrial Park is an ongoing integrated project consisting of two extraction (Malmberget and Per Geijer) and one processing components (Lulea Industrial Park) in Sweden. The project promoted by Luossavaara-Kirunavaara AB (LKAB) aims to contribute to the supply of rare earth elements for magnets.

(39)ReGAIN is an ongoing substitution project in Belgium. The project promoted by Umicore aims to contribute to the substitution of germanium.

(40)Romano Mine is an ongoing extraction project in Portugal. The project promoted by Lusorecursos Portugal Lithium S.A. aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

(41)Rovina is an ongoing extraction project in Romania. The project promoted by Euro Sun Mining Inc. aims to contribute to the supply of copper.

(42)Sakatti is an ongoing integrated extraction and processing project in Finland. The project promoted by Anglo American Services (UK) Ltd. Aims to contribute to the supply of cobalt, platinum group metals, copper and nickel (battery grade).

(43)SALROM Baia de Fier is an ongoing extraction project in Romania. The project promoted by Societatea Națională a Sării S.A.aims to contribute to the supply of graphite (battery grade).

(44)Talga Natural Graphite ONE is an ongoing extraction project in Sweden. The project promoted by Talga AB aims to contribute to the supply of graphite (battery grade).

(45)Verde Magnesium is an ongoing extraction project in Romania. The project promoted by Verde Magnesium SRL aims to contribute to the supply of magnesium metal.

(46)Viridian Lithium is an ongoing processing project in France. The project promoted by Viridian Lithium aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

(47)Zero Carbon Lithium is an ongoing extraction project in Germany. The project promoted by Vulcan Energie Ressourcen GmbH aims to contribute to the supply of lithium (battery grade).

Article 1#

Article 2#

List of strategic projects

Article 1 #

Article 2 #