Umicore's germanium projects receive EU support
The European Commission has selected 47 strategic projects to improve the extraction, processing and recycling of critical raw materials in the European Union, including the germanium activities of Belgium's Umicore.
Under the Critical Raw Materials Act, the Commission has published a list of projects that will receive European support for funding and permits. These projects aim to boost the production of key raw materials that are said to be crucial for the green and digital transition.
"Raw materials have long been the blind spot of our industrial policy," said Stéphane Séjourné, executive vice-president for prosperity and industrial strategy, at a press conference. The Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have exposed the EU's vulnerability and dependence on non-EU supply chains.
Extraction, recycling and substitution
The list includes 47 projects in 13 EU countries, covering all stages of the value chain from extraction to recycling and substitution. Key projects focus on lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite, which are crucial for battery production and electric vehicles.
"Chinese lithium cannot become tomorrow's Russian gas"
Séjourné said Europe must avoid replacing its dependence on fossil fuels with a dependence on these raw materials. "Chinese lithium cannot become tomorrow's Russian gas," he said.
Umicore's selected projects, GePETO and ReGAIN, focus on germanium processing and substitution. This market, essential for fibre optic cables and infrared technology, is dominated by China, which has imposed export restrictions since the summer of 2023.
Accelerating permit procedures
The 47 projects represent a total expected investment of more than 22 billion euros. Around 2 billion euros is available for funding and loan guarantees, but the European label aims to attract additional public and private investors. "We believe that these projects are feasible and can be rolled out quickly," Séjourné said.
The act provides for accelerated permitting procedures, which currently take five to ten years. Authorities must reduce these to 27 months for mining and 15 months for processing and recycling, while respecting social and environmental standards. Dialogue with local communities affected by new mining activities is essential, said Séjourné.
The legislation aims for European extraction, processing and recycling of these raw materials to cover 10, 40 and 25 per cent of EU demand respectively by 2030.
Stéphane Séjourné, executive vice president of the European Commission, presents 47 strategic raw materials projects in Brussels, 25 March 2025 © PHOTO MONASSE T/ANDBZ/ABACAPRESS.COM
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