EU approves Critical Raw Materials Act

In March this year, the European Commission published the European Critical Raw Materials Act. Its aim is to ensure EU access to a secure, diversified, affordable and sustainable supply of critical raw materials, which now includes manganese for battery applications. This should reduce the dependence of supply chains on strategic raw materials in order to strengthen the EU's economic resilience. Shortcomings in this sector were particularly evident in the EU after the COVID-19 pandemic and in the energy crisis following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The main objectives of the 2030 Act are:

Extract 10% of strategic mineral consumption

Process 40% of their consumption

Recycle 15% of their consumption

Reduce the EU's dependence on a single third country for imports of any mineral raw material from over 65%

The European Commission will also step up the deployment and use of breakthrough technologies in critical raw materials and foresees significant investment in research, innovation and skills.

The Act also introduces a definition of 'strategic projects', the purpose of which is to ensure the security of supply of strategic minerals. These projects have the status of being of the highest public interest, and for selected ones there will be support for access to finance and shorter permitting periods (24 months for mining permits and 12 months for processing and recycling permits).