Lorraine Williamson
As Europe looks to secure access to critical minerals, Spain has emerged as a key player in the EU’s plan to reduce reliance on Chinese imports. The European Commission wants more control over the sourcing and processing of raw materials needed for green technologies and digital industries.
Spain, with its untapped mining potential, could play a major role.
Strategic resources under European soil
The EU has long depended on imports—particularly from China—for materials like lithium, cobalt, and tungsten. These are essential for electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, semiconductors and defence systems. However, with rising geopolitical tensions, Brussels is shifting its focus to domestic extraction and processing.
The Critical Raw Materials Act, due to be unveiled on March 25, will list strategic mining projects across the EU. Several of these are expected to be located in Spain. They will be fast-tracked, with funding and regulatory support to speed up development. Moreover, these sites contain a range of resources—lithium, nickel, gallium and boron among them.
Targets for EU self-sufficiency
The European Commission has set clear goals: extract at least 10% of critical raw materials within the EU, process 40% locally, and ensure no more than 65% of any given raw material is imported from a single non-EU country. This approach is designed to strengthen Europe’s supply chains, reduce exposure to global market shocks, and support the transition to clean energy.
Spain prepares national strategy
In parallel, Spain has launched its own national action plan. The Plan de Acción de Materias Primas Minerales 2025–2029, presented by the Ministry for Ecological Transition, aims to identify and exploit national resources. Public consultation began on 12 March.
The plan includes mapping reserves, evaluating more than 1,000 disused mining sites, and simplifying rules for reopening old mines. A €400 million investment—sourced from the EU Recovery Fund—has been earmarked to support these initiatives. Furthermore, the government says the focus will be on sustainable and responsible mining.
What defines a critical raw material?
The EU classifies materials into three categories: critical, strategic, and general. Critical raw materials are scarce and economically important. Strategic raw materials are those needed for digital infrastructure, renewable energy, and defence. General raw materials are widely used industrial substances.
The 2023 EU list includes 17 such materials. Many are present in Spain in significant quantities, including aluminium, copper, titanium and rare earth elements.
Opportunities and risks
Spain’s geological assets and political alignment with EU goals make it a natural partner in the shift toward European autonomy. But the path forward is not without challenges. Environmental concerns, local opposition, and regulatory complexity have slowed mining progress in the past.
Still, Brussels appears determined. The March 25 announcement could mark a turning point, bringing Spain’s mining sector back into the spotlight. Whether this translates into long-term economic gains—and at what environmental cost—remains to be seen.
For now, Spain waits. And so does Europe.