Action Plan Unveiled; Focus on Critical Resources.
Spain is the fourth-largest market in the European Union, with a diverse industrial sector complementing its service-based economy. However, industries such as automotive manufacturing and renewable energy equipment production are heavily reliant on raw material imports. To reduce this dependency, the Spanish government has launched the Plan de Acción de las Materias Primas Minerales 2025-2029. This initiative aims to increase the availability of strategic materials—such as rare earth elements and nickel—by developing new mining projects and promoting secondary mining. Additionally, recycling efforts will be expanded.
A key component of the plan is the modernization of Spain’s mining legislation to align with the requirements of the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This regulation sets binding targets for the extraction, processing, and recycling of critical raw materials by 2030.
Spain has significant mineral reserves, including rare earth deposits. However, past mining proposals have faced opposition. With the CRMA and the new action plan in place, the issue may gain fresh momentum, potentially paving the way for greater domestic resource development.
Photo: phbz via Canva
