What if we use clean tech to source critical raw materials within the EU? | Epthinktank

Written by David Kemp with Adam Furman.

New methods are now available for processing mined metal ores that produce essentially no pollution compared to existing techniques. The large-scale development of these methods would allow EU mines to reopen, greatly contributing to EU sovereignty targets while lowering carbon emissions. Demonstrations of these technologies in Europe already exist at industrial scale, and current regulatory frameworks could be adapted to accommodate and promote their use. With the rollout of carbon pricing on imports (CBAM), new technologies could meet demand for greener materials. Simultaneously, new recycling technologies could help fulfil circular economy goals and prevent harmful destruction of e-waste.

Access to raw materials is indispensable in a modern society. The EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act identifies 34 critical raw materials, a list based on regularly updated research. Guaranteeing access to these materials is a priority for EU sovereignty and competitiveness, in order to reduce the current reliance on imports to achieve economic growth goals.

Many of the critical raw materials are metals, including copper, nickel and lithium, which are crucial for the production of electronics and batteries. Metals are mined as ore, then refined into their pure forms. They can also be recycled and reused.

The EU has domestic deposits of critical metals (see the Raw Materials Information System), but much of the material mined is not refined domestically, despite goals to increase EU extraction, processing, and recycling. European ore is mostly exported to non-EU countries and the processed metals re-imported (e.g. copper). The predominant purification process is called smelting, and involves heating the ore, which produces pollution that is closely regulated in the EU by the Industrial Emissions Directive. Besides smelting, transporting ore and metals via cargo ship – mostly to Asia – also produces additional emissions. Only high purity ores are economically and ecologically viable for smelting, especially domestically, which has contributed to mine and industry closures.

Simultaneously, the EU produces a large amount of e-waste that contains many of the same metals that Europe is trying to source. This waste is often exported, meaning further emissions from transport.

New technologies are taking a radically different approach to critical raw materials extraction and recycling. Hydrometallurgy is a broad term for processing ores not by smelting, but by making a solution from the ground-up ore and then using chemical or electrical processes to extract the pure metal. While hydrometallurgical methods in general are not new, cost-effective processes for sulfide ores – such as copper sulfide, which form a large part of European metal deposits – are state-of-the-art.

Effective hydrometallurgical methods for primary sulfides are now available, after studies and tests in recent years. In Spain, Laín Technologies is now running the first such industrial-scale plant. The large-scale feasibility of hydrometallurgy represents a potential revolution in EU raw material sourcing.

At the same time, research is ongoing to use similar techniques to recycle the metals present in electronics, batteries, and other products. Recycling treats existing products at their end of life (such as smartphones or batteries) as the ‘ore,’ using smelting or chemistry to separate and re-extract pure metals. If implemented at scale, recycling e-waste would be a cornerstone of the EU circular economy action plan and bring environmental benefits. Together, the innovations in both mining and recycling provide a new and sought after ‘on shore’ alternative to existing sources of many critical raw materials.

Potential impacts and developments

In the short term, the industrial viability of new hydrometallurgical mining techniques coincides with the impending implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a trade regulation that puts a price on carbon emissions outside the EU and which takes full effect in 2026. Since traditional smelting approaches have high carbon emissions (as well as heavy metal pollution), the CBAM’s financial and reporting requirements may cause increased interest from critical raw materials importers and users in greener technologies.

Looking further ahead, building up production capacity at scale could be an integral part of ensuring the EU’s raw materials supply, in line with the European Parliament’s goal of ensuring European sovereignty. Adding to the ecological advantages of hydrometallurgical methods is their ability to process lower-purity ore, enabling the reopening of previously exhausted mines. One argument is that reopening EU mines is necessary for economic security: doing so with new, cleaner processing would bring all of the economic and social benefits (such as increased employment in mining regions currently receiving EU transition support) free from pollution from smelting, although retaining the environmental cost of mining itself.

Plants such as the one in Andalucía require electricity to extract the metals. New plants would ideally open next to mining sites to minimise ore transport emissions and costs, but the power requirements could strain existing electricity infrastructure. More capacity is needed, however, to maintain all the environmental benefits; the increased power generation capacity should come from non-emitting sources.

Recycling technologies also require power and dedicated facilities, but come with the added logistical challenge of collecting e-waste from consumers and separating it from existing waste streams. Today, e-waste burning in developing countries is an environmental and health hazard. A robust domestic recycling ecosystem and informed public could prevent these harms and keep critical materials within the EU.

Anticipatory policy-making

Implementation and support for these new technologies already aligns very well with existing EU priorities and programmes. In addition to supporting research and development of new hydrometallurgical techniques for both mining and recycling through Horizon Europe and the next framework programme, start-ups and experimental ventures can be funded through the European Investment Bank. Since the technology is newly available at industrial scale, if assessed as suitable it could be designated as the best available technology at EU level in order to promote investment.

To ensure that mining regions and workers benefit, training programmes could be coordinated between existing mining companies and regional governments to provide workers with access to knowledge about the new technologies. Providing the necessary electricity to hydrometallurgical processing plant locations could be incorporated into existing grid unification efforts, and green energy sources built nearby.

Currently, critical raw materials are often sourced from trade partners, and trade deals such as the recent EU-Mercosur agreement help ensure access. Providing partner countries with access to new processing facilities and licensing European technologies to them would not only provide Europe with an economic benefit, it could also help mitigate some of the environmental impacts of mining.

New recycling technologies could also be integrated into the Waste Framework Directive and Waste Shipment Regulation. The EU could support Member States’ efforts to educate consumers about recycling options, and EU-level logistical coordination could ensure recycling centres are fully utilised. Studies could investigate whether regulation would help ensure the recyclability of devices. These technologies are a unique example of synergy between multiple interests and stakeholders. Their full development and implementation would greatly support EU sovereignty in critical raw materials supply, provide new jobs in mining regions, reduce pollution both domestically and abroad, and provide an opportunity for economic revitalisation and new small and medium-sized enterprises. In addition, the necessary regulatory frameworks and initiatives are already in place, and can be mobilised and coordinated to accommodate for the development of these new production and recycling tools.

Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘What if we use clean tech to source critical raw materials within the EU?‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.