Overview
- The European Commission has announced 47 strategic projects across 13 member states to strengthen critical raw material supply chains and reduce reliance on China.
- The projects, including eight in France, focus on lithium, nickel, cobalt, and other key materials essential for green technologies like EV batteries and wind turbines.
- Simplified permitting processes will fast-track project approvals, with extraction permits capped at 27 months and processing/recycling permits at 15 months.
- The EU aims to meet 2030 targets of 10% domestic extraction, 40% processing, and 25% recycling of critical raw materials while limiting reliance on any single third country to 65%.
- Environmental concerns, particularly over water usage in projects like the Allier lithium mine in France, and reduced opportunities for public challenges have sparked opposition.