Latest news with #CRMA
Euronews
6 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
EU Commission accused of mining secrecy in scramble for raw materials
The European Commission has failed to ensure adequate public consultation in its scramble to approve projects to mine critical raw materials, according to four Green MEPs who claim the executive has rebuffed requests for information and that they are mulling legal action against the executive. The EU adopted a Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) last May, listing minerals such as lithium and cobalt essential for electric cars and other clean energy applications, as well as digital and weapons technology. The EU is attempting to reduce dependency on single suppliers for these - such as China and the US - with the implementation of 60 extraction projects: 47 in the EU soil and 13 outside the Union. China's leadership in raw material extraction and production offer fierce competition to EU ambitions for production of electric vehicles and clean tech products. MEPs Maria Ohisalo, Sara Matthieu, Majdouline Sbaï and Ana Miranda, sought information on mining projects they considered problematic 'Despite several requests by MEPs and NGOs we have not been given access or provided information about the assessments of selected or upcoming projects,' the MEPs told Euronews, adding: 'We believe that transparency in these matters is not only a legal obligation, but an integral part of institutional accountability." Monitoring group has become an 'empty shell', claims MEP 'While the European Parliament has observer status in the CRM board, relevant information on the choice of projects has not reached us,' the French MEP Majdouline Sbaï from Les Ecologistes told Euronews. The Critical Raw Material (CRM) board is a monitoring group (MG) within the European Parliament committee for international trade established to offer MEPs access to confidential Commission information regarding trade. 'Since the start of the mandate, at least in the CRM MG, but I would say in all the monitoring groups we followed, the Commission keeps repeating information that is already made public. These MGs have thus become empty shells,' Sbaï told Euronews. The four MEPs sent a letter to the Commission in early May, seen by Euronews, asking access to the impact assessments of the mining projects. In addition, they also requested the names of the independent experts who conducted the assessments to verify their impartiality, the exact geographical locations of the projects, and details on how the Commission plans to monitor their progress. The MEPs told Euronews they received a response later in May from Kerstin Jorna, the European Commission's Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, which they described as vague and evasive. Euronews reached the Commission for a comment without receiving a reply at the time of publication. The projects The six projects eyeballed by the MEPs are: the Mina Doade in Spain; the Barroso mining project in Portugal; the Sakatti project in Finland; another in the Allier region of France, and two outside the EU, in Serbia and New Caledonia. Recursos Minerales de Galicia initially had its 2018 mining project for the 'Alberta I' area rejected by regional authorities in 2020. In 2024, the company resubmitted the project under the name 'Mina Doade', and it has since been approved by the European Commission under the CRM. Another project approved by the Commission is located in protected marshlands in Viiankiaapa, Finland. The site forms part of the EU Natura 2000 network of sites designated for bird and biodiversity conservation. 'Mining does not belong to protected areas,' Finnish MEP Maria Ohisalo told Euronews, claiming that mining such an area 'destroys the very basis of nature conservation'. A €1 billion lithium project in France's Allier region, set to be the country's largest mining operation in decades, is sparking local controversy. Over five months of public debates, residents have raised concerns about water contamination, high energy use, and chemical risks. 'Fast-tracking extraction without pursuing strategies to moderate demand for raw materials and seeking consent of local communities is a recipe for disaster,' Belgian MEP Sara Matthieu told Euronews. Similar concerns were raised for a project in Serbia where a year ago, the Jada mining project was unblocked to become the EU's largest supplier of lithium, following strong local protests.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blue Moon Metals Nussir Copper Project Receives Special Strategic Project Status from the European Union
TORONTO, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Moon Metals Inc. ('Blue Moon' or the 'Company') (TSXV: MOON; OTCQX: BMOOF), is pleased to announce on June 4, 2025, the European Union ('EU') Commission designated Blue Moon's Nussir Project, located in Northern Norway, as a Strategic Critical Raw Material Project. Acting under the provisions of the 2023 EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), the commission added a total of 13 projects outside of the block to its Strategic projects list. The CRMA seeks to diversify the supply of critical minerals and reduce dependence on China. Nussir is the first project located in Norway to receive this designation and will benefit from coordinated support by the EU Commission, better access to public and private financing through various funding programs, and political support for the advancement of the project, among other benefits. The selection process included technical, environmental, and social reviews by independent experts to assess compliance with CRMA's stipulations. Of the 13 global projects added, only the Nussir Project is a primary copper project. Christian Kargl-Simard, CEO of Blue Moon states; 'Being defined as a Critical Raw Material Act Strategic Project is yet another milestone for Nussir and a strong endorsement of the work done to date. This inclusion will open up new opportunities for the Company. We look forward to working together with the EU Commission and our stakeholders to maximize the local and regional benefits of the project, to support Europe's self-relance for critical mineral supply, and to significantly contribute to the green energy transition in the current geopolitically complex backdrop. We look forward to providing a clean copper supply to Europe for decades to come, especially with one of the cleanest copper concentrates in the world, powered solely from renewable energy sources.' About Blue Moon Blue Moon is advancing 3 brownfield polymetallic projects, including the Nussir copper-gold-silver project in Norway, the Blue Moon zinc-gold-silver-copper project in the United States and the NSG copper-zinc-gold-silver project in Norway. All 3 projects are well located with existing local infrastructure including roads, power and historical infrastructure. Zinc and copper are currently on the USGS and EU list of metals critical to the global economy and national security. More information is available on the Company's website ( For further information: Blue Moon Metals Kargl-SimardCEO and DirectorPhone: (416) 230 3440Email: christian@ This news release includes 'forward-looking statements' and 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. All statements included herein that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information may in some cases be identified by words such as 'will', 'anticipates', 'expects', 'intends' and similar expressions suggesting future events or future performance. We caution that all forward-looking information is inherently subject to change and uncertainty and that actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. A number of risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information or could cause our current objectives, strategies and intentions to change. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking information will materialize and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents management's current expectations and are based on information currently available to management, and are subject to change after the date of this news release. We are under no obligation (and we expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter any statements containing forward-looking information, the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. All of the forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements herein. Forward-looking information is provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the Nussir Project and its expected impact. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. A comprehensive discussion of other risks that impact Blue Moon can also be found in its public reports and filings which are available at in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mkango Resources Limited - Songwe Project Announced as a Strategic Project
Mkango's Songwe Hill Rare Earth Mining Project Announced as a Strategic Project Under European Union Critical Raw Materials Act CALGARY, AB / / June 4, 2025 / Mkango Resources Ltd. (AIM/TSX-V:MKA) ("Mkango" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Songwe Hill Rare Earths Mining Project in Malawi ("Songwe") has been designated as a Strategic Project by the European Commission under the Critical Raw Materials Act ("CRMA"). Strategic Project status confirms the importance of Songwe in supplying rare earths to supply chains across Europe, North America and other markets. Songwe is one of the very few rare earth projects globally to have advanced to the NI 43-101 compliant Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") stage, with a full Environmental, Social, Health Impact Assessment ("ESHIA") also completed in compliance with IFC Performance Standards. A mining development agreement was signed with the Government of Malawi in July 2024. Based on the DFS, Songwe has an expected mine life of 18 years and will produce a mixed rare earth carbonate ("MREC"), containing approximately 1,953 tonnes per annum of neodymium / praseodymium oxides and 56 tonnes per annum of dysprosium / terbium oxides for the first five years of full production. Mkango's Pulawy Separation Project in Poland ("Pulawy"), which will process the MREC from Songwe, was also previously designated a Strategic Project under the CRMA in March 2025 (News | Mkango Resources Ltd.). Songwe and Pulawy will provide an integrated pure-play mined and refined supply of rare earth oxides, with both projects designated strategic by the European Commission. As designated Strategic Projects, Songwe and Pulawy will benefit from coordinated support from the EU Member States and financial institutions, in particular in terms of access to finance and in supporting projects by facilitating connections with future off-takers. Strategic Project Status under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act A list of 47 strategic critical raw material projects designated as Strategic Projects under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council, commonly referred to as the Critical Raw Materials Act was released on 25 March 2025. At that time, Pulawy was announced as one of the EU-based strategic projects, with a further list of 13 international projects released today including Songwe, one of only two rare earths projects. Songwe has been assessed by the EU to be highly important to the EU's supply security of strategic raw materials and possesses viable technical feasibility within reasonable timeframes. Under the CRMA, the project is required to be implemented in a sustainable manner, minimising environmental and social impacts. Obtaining Strategic Project status offers key advantages for developers, significantly facilitating and accelerating the development of strategic raw materials projects within and outside the EU. As previously announced on 8 January 2025, a proposed SPAC merger (the "Merger") between Mkango's subsidiary, Lancaster Exploration Limited ("Lancaster"), and certain other wholly-owned subsidiaries of Mkango and Crown PropTech Acquisitions("CPTK") will create a vertically integrated global pure play rare earths platform that is intended to result in the ordinary shares of Lancaster being listed on NASDAQ. Upon the Merger and listing, Lancaster, as the listed entity, will hold the Songwe and Pulawy Projects. About Mkango Resources Ltd. Mkango is listed on the AIM and the TSX-V. Mkango's corporate strategy is to become a market leader in the production of recycled rare earth magnets, alloys and oxides, through its interest in Maginito Limited ("Maginito"), which is owned 79.4 per cent by Mkango and 20.6 per cent by CoTec Holdings Corp ("CoTec"), and to develop new sustainable sources of neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium to supply accelerating demand from electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean energy technologies. Maginito holds a 100 per cent interest in HyProMag Limited (HyProMag") and a 90 per cent direct and indirect interest (assuming conversion of Maginito's convertible loan) in HyProMag GmbH ("HyProMag Germany"), focused on short loop rare earth magnet recycling in the UK and Germany, respectively, and a 100 per cent interest in Mkango Rare Earths UK Ltd ("Mkango UK"), focused on long loop rare earth magnet recycling in the UK via a chemical route. Maginito and CoTec are also rolling out HPMS recycling technology into the United States via the 50/50 owned HyProMag USA LLC joint venture company ("HyProMag USA"). Songwe is one of the few rare earth projects to have advanced to the NI 43-101 compliant Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") stage. The project has an expected mine life of 18 years and is designed to produce a 55% mixed rare earth carbonate, yielding approximately 1,953 tonnes per annum of NdPr and 56 tonnes per annum of DyTb. The proposed Pulawy separation facility site is located in a Special Economic Zone in Poland stands adjacent to the EU's second largest manufacturer of nitrogen fertilisers, and features established infrastructure, access to reagents and utilities on site. For more information, please visit Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR') which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of that term under applicable securities laws) with respect to Mkango, its business, the Songwe, Pulawy, HyProMag, HyProMag Germany, Mkango UK and HyPromag USA (the "Business"). Generally, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "is expected to", "scheduled", "estimates" "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "can", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will", occur or be achieved, or the negative connotations thereof. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, without limiting the foregoing, market effects on global demand and pricing for the metals and associated downstream products for which Mkango is exploring, researching and developing, factors relating the development of Business, including the outcome of the feasibility study, cost overruns, complexities in building and operating plants, changes in economics and government regulation, and delays in obtaining financing or governmental approvals or, and the impact of environmental and other regulations relating to, the Business. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. For further information on Mkango, please contact: Mkango Resources Limited William Dawes Alexander Lemon Robert Sewell Chief Executive Officer President Chief Financial Officer will@ alex@ rob@ Burton Kachinjika Dr. Jaroslaw Paczek Country Director - Malawi Country Director - Poland burton@ jpaczek@ Canada: +1 403 444 5979Poland: +48 664 144 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLPNominated Adviser and Joint BrokerJeff Keating, Jen Clarke, Devik MehtaUK: +44 20 3470 0470 Alternative Resource CapitalJoint BrokerAlex Wood, Keith DowsingUK: +44 20 7186 9004/5 The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any equity or other securities of the Company in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold within the United States to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ or visit MKANGO RESOURCES LTD.550 Burrard StreetSuite 2900VancouverBC V6C 0A3Canada SOURCE: Mkango Resources Ltd. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Associated Press
04-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Mkango Resources Limited - Songwe Project Announced as a Strategic Project
Mkango's Songwe Hill Rare Earth Mining Project Announced as a Strategic Project Under European Union Critical Raw Materials Act CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / June 4, 2025 / Mkango Resources Ltd. (AIM/TSX-V:MKA) ('Mkango' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce that the Songwe Hill Rare Earths Mining Project in Malawi ('Songwe') has been designated as a Strategic Project by the European Commission under the Critical Raw Materials Act ('CRMA'). Strategic Project Status under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act A list of 47 strategic critical raw material projects designated as Strategic Projects under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council, commonly referred to as the Critical Raw Materials Act was released on 25 March 2025. At that time, Pulawy was announced as one of the EU-based strategic projects, with a further list of 13 international projects released today including Songwe, one of only two rare earths projects. Songwe has been assessed by the EU to be highly important to the EU's supply security of strategic raw materials and possesses viable technical feasibility within reasonable timeframes. Under the CRMA, the project is required to be implemented in a sustainable manner, minimising environmental and social impacts. Obtaining Strategic Project status offers key advantages for developers, significantly facilitating and accelerating the development of strategic raw materials projects within and outside the EU. As previously announced on 8 January 2025, a proposed SPAC merger (the 'Merger') between Mkango's subsidiary, Lancaster Exploration Limited ('Lancaster'), and certain other wholly-owned subsidiaries of Mkango and Crown PropTech Acquisitions('CPTK') will create a vertically integrated global pure play rare earths platform that is intended to result in the ordinary shares of Lancaster being listed on NASDAQ. Upon the Merger and listing, Lancaster, as the listed entity, will hold the Songwe and Pulawy Projects. About Mkango Resources Ltd. Mkango is listed on the AIM and the TSX-V. Mkango's corporate strategy is to become a market leader in the production of recycled rare earth magnets, alloys and oxides, through its interest in Maginito Limited ('Maginito'), which is owned 79.4 per cent by Mkango and 20.6 per cent by CoTec Holdings Corp ('CoTec'), and to develop new sustainable sources of neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium to supply accelerating demand from electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean energy technologies. Maginito holds a 100 per cent interest in HyProMag Limited (HyProMag') and a 90 per cent direct and indirect interest (assuming conversion of Maginito's convertible loan) in HyProMag GmbH ('HyProMag Germany'), focused on short loop rare earth magnet recycling in the UK and Germany, respectively, and a 100 per cent interest in Mkango Rare Earths UK Ltd ('Mkango UK'), focused on long loop rare earth magnet recycling in the UK via a chemical route. Maginito and CoTec are also rolling out HPMS recycling technology into the United States via the 50/50 owned HyProMag USA LLC joint venture company ('HyProMag USA'). Songwe is one of the few rare earth projects to have advanced to the NI 43-101 compliant Definitive Feasibility Study ('DFS') stage. The project has an expected mine life of 18 years and is designed to produce a 55% mixed rare earth carbonate, yielding approximately 1,953 tonnes per annum of NdPr and 56 tonnes per annum of DyTb. The proposed Pulawy separation facility site is located in a Special Economic Zone in Poland stands adjacent to the EU's second largest manufacturer of nitrogen fertilisers, and features established infrastructure, access to reagents and utilities on site. For more information, please visit Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR') which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of that term under applicable securities laws) with respect to Mkango, its business, the Songwe, Pulawy, HyProMag, HyProMag Germany, Mkango UK and HyPromag USA (the 'Business'). Generally, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as 'plans', 'expects' or 'is expected to', 'scheduled', 'estimates' 'intends', 'anticipates', 'believes', or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results 'can', 'may', 'could', 'would', 'should', 'might' or 'will', occur or be achieved, or the negative connotations thereof. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, without limiting the foregoing, market effects on global demand and pricing for the metals and associated downstream products for which Mkango is exploring, researching and developing, factors relating the development of Business, including the outcome of the feasibility study, cost overruns, complexities in building and operating plants, changes in economics and government regulation, and delays in obtaining financing or governmental approvals or, and the impact of environmental and other regulations relating to, the Business. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. For further information on Mkango, please contact: Mkango Resources Limited Canada: +1 403 444 5979 Poland: +48 664 144 130 @MkangoResources SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker Jeff Keating, Jen Clarke, Devik Mehta UK: +44 20 3470 0470 Alternative Resource Capital Joint Broker Alex Wood, Keith Dowsing UK: +44 20 7186 9004/5 The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any equity or other securities of the Company in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'U.S. Securities Act') and may not be offered or sold within the United States to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit MKANGO RESOURCES LTD. 550 Burrard Street Suite 2900 Vancouver BC V6C 0A3 Canada SOURCE: Mkango Resources Ltd. press release
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stockpiling strategic materials key to 'remilitarisation of Europe'
European security and defence were high on the agenda at the EIT RawMaterials Summit, held in Brussels from 13 to 15 May. With escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding Europe and within the continent itself from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, securing critical raw materials (CRMs) for defence applications is more important than ever. However, the consensus is that Europe is lagging far behind. Allard Castelein, special representative for raw materials strategy at Netherlands' Ministry of Economic Affairs, stated: 'A deep concern I have is whether there is a full appreciation of the urgency and what it takes to move from A to B.' He was speaking during a panel entitled Geopolitical Dynamics in Securing Europe's Defence Supply Chains on 14 May. Castelein asserted that the 2030 targets of the European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) are 'out of reach'. These aim to ensure that 10% of the EU's annual demand is met through domestic extraction, 40% through domestic processing and 25% through recycling within the EU, as well as limiting dependency on a single third country for any individual CRM to no more than 65%. The CRMA lists 34 materials, of which 17 are considered 'strategic': bauxite, bismuth, boron, cobalt, copper, gallium, germanium, rare earth elements for permanent magnets, lithium, magnesium, manganese, graphite, nickel, platinum group metals, silicon, titanium and tungsten. The panellists spotlighted the importance of graphite in aircraft, submarines, tanks and missiles, for which Europe is heavily dependent on China. Of the CRMA's 47 strategic projects, 11 cover graphite extraction, recycling, substitution and processing. Institutions like the European Investment Bank (EIB) have a role to play in financing, as EIB vice-president Nicola Beer explained. 'The bank is already engaged with about 60% of the strategic projects under the CRMA. Part of the complex challenge is working on specific challenges of every raw material separately, with a special emphasis on defence.' Emanuel Proença, CEO of Savannah Resources, told Mining Technology: 'Europe absolutely needs a footing in CRMs and defence is a key opportunity.' Savannah is developing the Barroso lithium project in Portugal, which has been designated as a strategic project under the CRMA. The company is currently working towards completing the definitive feasibility study and submitting it for the final, confirmatory phase of the environmental licence by the end of 2025. Efforts by industry and regulators aim to address the 'fragmentation in the EU's defence industrial base', as outlined by last year's Draghi report on EU competitiveness. As the CRMA includes a soft request for national stockpiles, the report recommends a definition of mandatory EU-wide stockpiles to 'provide some certainty of supply'. The quantities of strategic materials needed for defence are small, confirmed Benjamin Gallezot, Interministerial Delegate for Supplies of Strategic Minerals and Metals at the French Prime Minister's Office, as he emphasised the importance of stockpiling. 'In 2023, the French Government adopted a specific legal framework which makes stockpiling mandatory for companies that are active in defence and for all production activities to be redirected to defence in times of emergency,' he stated. 'You cannot take a chance on defence, and stockpiling is a no-brainer.' In agreement was Joaquim Nunes de Almeida, director of DG Grow, which works to develop and implement EU policies that support businesses. 'We are talking about small quantities and projects that will be uncommercial forever. The state and public sector has to be able to subsidise these as we calculate what the remilitarisation of Europe means in terms of CRMs.' Gallezot confirmed that France is supplying the Netherlands with CRMs. 'Stockpiling is a European matter, not just a national question, but within member states, commercial stockpiles also help in a crisis to increase defence applications.' The CRMA requires large EU companies to become aware of strategic material supply risks and create appropriate mitigation strategies to be better prepared in case of supply disruptions. For defence-related manufacturing, this includes robotics, drones, rocket launchers, satellites and advanced chips. Joining the other panellists was Oleksandr Kubrakov, adviser to Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, who explained the country's tough position. 'In recent decades, the Ukrainian mining industry has been focused on short-term projects as there was no political stability for longer-term foreign investments,' Kubrakov said. While calling for NATO membership, Kubrakov added that as Ukraine is currently in an accession process to join the EU, 'it is time to act again. European companies could participate in projects at feasibility stages right now.' Going forwards, Krzysztof Galos, Undersecretary of State in Poland's Ministry of Climate and Environment, asserted that Europe's CRM list must be continually updated to meet the evolving needs of the defence sector. The list is reviewed and updated by the European Commission every three years, allowing for additional reviews upon request from the European Critical Raw Materials Board, based on monitoring and stress testing. 'There is no use having a defence industry without having resilient industrial activity. The two must be brought together,' concluded Castelein. "Stockpiling strategic materials key to 'remilitarisation of Europe'" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
