Commission Decision (EU) 2025/840 of 25 March 2025 recognising certain critical raw material projects as Strategic Projects under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2025) 1904)
Date: 2025-03-25
Institutions: Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission
Subjects: project evaluation, project of common interest, raw material, security of supply, sustainable development, value chain








L_202500840EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/840


30.4.2025







            COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2025/840
of 25 March 2025
         
recognising certain critical raw material projects as Strategic Projects under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council


(notified under document C(2025) 1904)


(Only the English text is authentic)


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 (1), 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 (2), 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) (3). 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
This Decision is addressed to the following undertakings:








 



Project Promoter




Promoter address




Project Name





1


Eramet


10, Boulevard de Grenelle, 75015 Paris, France


Ageli




2


RIO NARCEA RECURSOS S.A.


Monesterio a Cala, S/N, 06260, Monesterio (Badajoz), Spain


Aguablanca Project




3


Solvay Chimica Italia Spa


Rosignano Marittimo, Via Piave 6, Italy


Alpha Project




4


Tokai COBEX savoie


244 rue des Epicéas, Notre Dame-de-Briançon - La Léchère, France


BAM4EVER (Phase I&II)




5


Savannah Lithium Unipessoal, Lda


Rua 5 de Outubro, No 26 5460-304 Boticas, Portugal


Barroso Lithium Project




6a


European Bauxites


51st km National Road Lamia Amfissa, 331 00 Fokida, Greece


BAUX-EU




6b


Metlen Energy and Metals


Greece; 8 Artemidos str, Maroussi - Athens, Attiki 15125, Greece


GALLANT, LEADER




7


CAREMAG SAS


129 rue de Servient - Tour Part-Dieu, 69003 Lyon, France


CAREMAG




8


Euro Manganese Inc


709-700 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 1G8, Canada


Chvaletice Manganese Project




9


Geomet s.r.o.


Skolni 299, Mstisov, 417 03 Dubi, Czech Republic


Cínovec lithium project




10


Atlantic Copper SLU


Avda. Francisco Montenegro, s/n. 21001 Huelva, Spain


CirCular




11


UP Catalyst


Akadeemia tee 23, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia


CO2 Graphite




12a


IMERYS Lithium France


43 Quai de Grenelle, 75015 Paris, France


Emili processing




12b


IMERYS Ceramics France


43 Quai de Grenelle, 75015 Paris, France


Emili extraction




13


NGC Battery Materials GmbH


Reinhard-Heraeus-Ring 27, 63801 Kleinostheim, Germany


European Initiative for Strategic and Sustainable Graphite Production




14


Umicore


Watertorenstraat 33, 2250, Olen, Belgium


GePETO




15


Sibanye-Stillwater Sandouville Refinery


5059 ROUTE INDUSTRIELLE, 76430 SANDOUVILLE, France


GALLICAM




16


Hycamite TCD Technologies Ltd.


Kemirantie 15, 67900, Kokkola, Finland


Hycamite TCD Technologies Ltd




17


ORANO Batteries


Quai à Pondéreux Ouest, Route du Terminal, 59.279 Loon-Plage, France


Hydrometallurgy




18


Jervois Finland Oy


Metallitehtaantie 48, 67900 Kokkola, Finland


Jervois Finland Cobalt Refinery Expansion Project




19


Keliber Technology Oy


Toholammintie 496, 69600 Kaustinen, Finland


KELIBER LITHIUM




20


Terrafame Ltd


Malmitie 66, 88120 Tuhkakylä, Finland


Kolmisoppi




21


LITHIUM IBERIA, S.L.


Polígono Industrial San José Obrero, s/n, 10820, Cañaveral (Cáceres), Spain


Las Navas




22


Itelyum Regeneration SpA


Via Tavernelle 19, 26854 Pieve Fissiraga, Lodi, Italy


LIFE-22-ENV- IT- INSPIREE




23


Lifthium energy, S.A.


R. Silval 37 12° piso, 2780-373 Oeiras, Portugal


Lift One




24


Rock Tech Guben GmbH


Balcke-Dürr-Allee 9, 40882 Ratingen, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany


Lithium Hydroxide Converter Guben




25


MagREEsource


209 Route des Béalières 38360 Noyarey, France


MagFactory




26


RECURSOS MINERALES DE GALICIA, S.A.


Paseo Independencia no21, 3o Piso. 50001 Zaragoza, Spain


MINA DOADE PROJECT




27


ABENÓJAR TUNGSTEN S.L.


Ayala Street no 10, 4o Left, Spain


Mining project El Moto




28


Northvolt Revolt AB


Alströmergatan 20 SE-112 47 Stockholm, Sweden


NorthCYCLE




29


SOMINCOR


Santa Barbara de Padroes, 7780-409 Castro Verde, Portugal


Semblana, 3RD SILO, LOMBADOR North Phase 2




30


Iberian Resources Spain


Finca La Parrilla, 10132 Almoharin, Caceres, Spain


P6 Metals




31


Elemental Strategic Metals Sp. z o.o.


05-825 Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Traugutta 42a Street, Poland


POLVOLT




32


Cobre las Cruces S.A.U.


CTRA 3410, KM 4.100. 41860. GERENA. SEVILLA, Spain


Polymetallic primary sulphite project




33


Portovesme srl


Piazzale dei Caduti della Montagnola, 72, 00144 Roma, Italy


Portovesme CRM Hub




34


PCC Thorion GmbH


Moerser Str. 149, 47198 Duisburg, Germany


ProHiPerSi




35


Fortum Battery Recycling Oy


Sepänkatu 12, 29200 Harjavalta, Finland


Project Fortum Hydromet




36


Mkango Resources Ltd.


550 Burrard Street, Suite 2900. Vancouver, BC. Canada, V6C 0A3


Pulawy Rare Earths Separation Plant




37


Circular Materials s.r.l.


Viale delle Industrie 20, 20040 Cambiago (MI) Italy


RECOVER-IT




38


LKAB (Luossavaara-Kirunavaara AB)


Varvsgatan 45, Luleå, Sweden


ReeMAP Project: Malmberget, Lulea Industrial Park, Per Geijer




39


Umicore


Broekstraat 31 Rue du Marais, 1000 Brussel, Belgium


ReGAIN




40


Lusorecursos Portugal Lithium S.A.


Rua Direita, n.30, 5470-251, Montalegre, Portugal


Romano Mine




41


Euro Sun Mining Inc.


198 Davenport Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 1J2, Canada


Rovina




42


Anglo American Services (UK) Ltd.


17 Charterhouse Street, London, EC1N 6RA, United Kingdom,


Sakatti




43


Societatea Națională a Sării S.A.


Calea Victoriei nr. 220, etaj 4, sector 1, Bucuresti, CP, 10099, Romania


SALROM Baia de Fier




44


Talga AB


Södra Kungsgatan 5B, 97235 Luleå, Sweden


Talga Natural Graphite ONE




45


Verde Magnesium SRL.


21 Vointei Street, ground floor, District 5, Bucharest, Romania


Verde Magnesium




46


Viridian Lithium


9 rue de la Krutenau, 67000 Strasbourg, France


Viridian Lithium




47


Vulcan Energie Ressourcen GmbH


Amalienbadstrasse 41, Bau 54, 76227 Karlsruhe, Germany


Zero Carbon Lithium








Done at Brussels, 25 March 2025.


For the Commission

Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ
            

Executive Vice-President






(1)  
            OJ L, 2024/1252, 3.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1252/oj.

(2)  
            Call for applications: Strategic Projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act - European Commission.

(3)  
            
United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) | UNECE
.




ANNEX
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 (3rd 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).





ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/840/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)