The European Commission has chosen 46 strategic raw material projects across 16 EU countries to speed up permitting and funding, as the bloc races to cut reliance on China. The projects, announced on October 9, cover 15 of the EU’s 17 strategic raw materials, including lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt and rare earths.

They are expected to need about 21.1 billion euros in investment from public and private sources. The move supports the EU’s 2024 Critical Raw Materials Act, which targets mining 10%, processing 40% and recycling 25% of annual needs by 2030. Notable projects include the Zinnwald lithium project in Germany, the Skouries mine in Greece and the Viscaria copper project in Sweden.

Progress on projects picked last year has been slow, and developers warn more funding is urgently needed. Strategic projects do not automatically receive EU funding, but the Commission facilitates access to funding and connects developers with lenders. The latest set follows 60 projects announced last year, including 13 outside the EU.