2 SESSION BRIEF
Lisbon, 21 October 2025 – As Europe grapples with the urgent need for critical raw materials (CRMs) to fuel its green and digital transitions, Portugal is emerging as a key player in the sector. At the MINEX Europe Forum in Lisbon, industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers gathered to explore how Portugal is leveraging its geological heritage to secure a sustainable future for mining.
From lithium and copper to tungsten and ornamental stones, the country’s mining sector is undergoing a radical transformation. With a long history dating back to Roman times, Portugal today stands at the forefront of Europe’s push for mineral self-sufficiency, publicly aiming to meet 10% of the EU’s domestic CRM extraction target by 2030.
Why Portugal’s Mining Matters
With global supply chains increasingly disrupted by geopolitical tensions, Portugal’s mining industry is not just about extraction—it’s about strategic resilience. As António Costa Silva, former Minister of Economy, highlighted, Europe’s reliance on external sources for critical minerals poses risks to energy independence, defence capabilities, and economic competitiveness.
“The world is moving towards geopolitical fragmentation,” Silva said. “If we don’t secure our own mineral supply chains, we risk being at the mercy of a few dominant players—like China’s control over rare earths and lithium. Portugal’s geological potential is not just economic; it’s a matter of national security.”
Portugal’s non-ferrous metal mining industry generated €580 million in revenue in 2024, ranking eighth in Europe. The country’s Iberian Pyrite Belt—a vast region rich in copper, zinc, and lithium—holds untapped potential, while its ornamental stone industry remains a global leader, exporting over €560 million worth of marble, granite, and slate in 2024.
Portugal’s Strategic Approach to Sustainable Mining
To align with the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), Portugal has launched a 19-point national action plan, focusing on three key pillars:
- Planning & Governance: A unified sectoral program to improve geological data integration with energy and environmental policies.
- Territorial Integration: Ensuring mineral projects are embedded in local land-use plans to minimise conflicts and accelerate approvals.
- Communication & Public Engagement: Launching awareness campaigns to address scepticism about mining’s role in society.
“The challenge isn’t just about finding resources—it’s about securing public trust,” said Patrícia Falé, Director of Mineral Resources at the DGEG (Directorate-General for Energy and Geology). “We need to communicate the importance of mining not just for industry, but for everyday life—from smartphones to renewable energy.”
Modernising Mine Rehabilitation
Portugal’s approach to mine rehabilitation sets a European benchmark. The EDM (Empresa de Desenvolvimento Mineiro), a state-run company, has transformed 199 abandoned mining sites into renewable energy hubs, tourist attractions, and educational centres, investing over €150 million since 2001.
“We’re not just cleaning up old mines—we’re creating new opportunities,” explained Zélia Estevão, EDM’s Board Member. “By repurposing tailings into construction materials and converting former pits into solar farms, we’re turning environmental liabilities into economic assets.”
Industry Focus: Critical and Essential Materials
A key panel discussion focused on the practical challenges and opportunities facing specific raw material sectors in Portugal.
| Material | Key Players | Context & Challenges |
| Copper (Cu) & Zinc (Zn) | Mário Cândido (Boliden Somincor), Humberto Costa Leite (Almina), João Barros (Redcorp/Ascendant Resources) | Copper is essential for the energy transition. Almina is one of Europe’s largest copper/zinc producers and is investing €400 million in modernization. Challenges: Extremely high energy costs in Europe (30-50% higher than US), deep-level mining challenges (1,200m depth at Neves Corvo, with 50°C rock temperature), and the need for simplified, faster licensing processes. |
| Tungsten (W) | António Corrêa de Sá (Beralt Tin and Wolfram Portugal), Vítor Arezes (Mineralia) | Tungsten is irreplaceable for defence and industry. Market Dynamics: Prices have doubled due to immense demand (particularly military) and China (controlling 80% of global production) restricting exports. Panasqueira Mine (over 130 years old) plans a deep-level project to extend its life but requires smooth regulations. |
| Lithium (Li) | John Pereira (Savannah Resources), Ricardo Pinheiro (Lusorecursos) | Savannah’s Barroso Lithium Project increased its resource by 40%, now mostly in the Measured and Indicated JORC category (an international standard for resource reporting), achieved through 50,000 meters of drilling. Lusorecursos’ Moncorvo project is a 100% Portuguese endeavour focusing on an underground mine and an integrated refinery to ensure a complete value chain and maximize value capture, aiming for zero waste. |
| Feldspar | Brendan Clifford (Mota Ceramics Solutions) | Feldspar is an essential industrial mineral. Clifford stressed that while minerals aren’t rare, finding the opportunity to extract them responsibly is. Note: Although not officially listed as a Critical Raw Material (CRM) in the latest EU CRMA, it is gaining strategic importance due to its co-production potential with hard-rock lithium projects and essential use in ceramics. The key challenge remains maintaining community trust and addressing “Wild West” legacy issues. |
Ornamental Stones: Essential and Innovative
Marta Peres, Executive Director of Cluster Portugal Mineral Resources, highlighted the importance of a sector not on the CRMA list: Ornamental Stones.
- Economic Pillar: Portugal is among the world’s top 10 exporters and producers. The sector’s exports reached over €560 million to 116 countries in 2024, generating over 14,000 direct jobs.
- The “Sustainable Stone by Portugal” Agenda: This initiative, with a total investment of €69 million and uniting 52 partners (including 20 stone companies and 16 universities), aims for a smart, green, and competitive transformation.
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- Goals: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, achieve nearly 100% byproduct reuse, and incorporate 60% renewable energy in industrial operations.
Final Consensus: The Way Forward
The session ended with a shared final message from the industry:
- Simplify and Accelerate: The most significant bottleneck is not financing, but the slow, over-bureaucratic, and often political decision-making process for licensing and permitting. The industry urged governments to simplify regulations.
- Education and Trust: There is a critical need to educate the public and politicians about the essential nature of mining and to restore social trust by demonstrating the industry’s commitment to responsible, technologically advanced, and safe practices. This includes retaining skilled people who are currently being lost to other continents.
- Focus on the Essential: While “critical” and “strategic” are important, the foundation of modern society rests on essential raw materials, and a balanced approach to the entire mineral sector is required for Europe’s prosperous future.