Securing the metals and minerals Europe needs for a sustainable digital future

With the European Commission passing the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) in 2024, many of the discussions at the 2025 EIT RawMaterials Summit revolved around the theme of how the European Union (EU) will ensure a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials for the future. In line with this theme, Paul Gait, our Group Head of Strategy, and Jan Klawitter, our Head of Government & International Relations – EU & APAC, each took part in panel discussions at the Summit.

In Paul’s panel, concerning the importance of strategic investment, he noted that if the EU wants to achieve its goals of securing a sustainable supply of critical raw materials, there needs to be a shift in mindset when it comes to thinking about investing in the extractive industry in Europe.

Paul said: “The mining industry has a trust rating on most global surveys behind that of tobacco. So, a product that kills you slowly is considered more trustworthy than the very basis of all industrial and economic activity; the primary extractive industries. Mining needs to be thought of in the same kind of terms that agriculture is thought of, in a European setting, in order to expedite the kind of changes that are needed to support the deployment of political capital; to support politicians standing up and saying very vocally: ‘This is absolutely crucial and we are going to expedite it’.”

Jan participated in a panel discussion titled “Securing Europe's Metals Future: Clean Industrial Deal, Metals Action Plan, and Circular Economy Act”. In his panel, Jan noted that while the CRMA is a very positive step towards the EU ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials, it is still only the beginning of the journey. “We must implement projects, mobilise financing, and boost social acceptance,” said Jan. “Exploration is mining’s R&D. Without it, there’s no sustainable project pipeline.”

Directly aligned with the EU’s critical raw materials priorities, Anglo American’s Sakatti copper and polymetallic project in Finland was designated in March 2025 as a ‘Strategic Project’ under the CRMA. This designation allows Sakatti to benefit from more efficient processing of permitting applications and therefore, more predictable development timelines.

At both our Woodsmith fertiliser project in the UK and at our Sakatti polymetallic asset in Finland, we are applying our Quellaveco blueprint for responsible mining to design and develop our next generation of FutureSmart mine. From the early 2030s, we expect to deliver around 100,000 tonnes of copper equivalent production per year at Sakatti. This will play a significant role in helping Europe secure the responsible supply of the metals and minerals it requires for decarbonising its energy and transport systems, numerous advanced technologies, and meeting the fast-growing demands of billions of people around the world. We also have a greenfield copper discovery prospect in the state of Thuringia in Germany, where we have embarked on a multi-year exploration programme, initiated in 2021, involving geophysical surveys and culminating in an active drill test programme to explore for Kupferschiefer-style copper-silver mineralised systems. These are similar to the actively mined systems in Poland – the world’s largest-known examples of sediment-hosted mineralisation.

About our partnership with EIT RawMaterials

Co-funded by the European Union, EIT RawMaterials is a networking organisation committed to supporting Europe’s transition to a green, circular and digital economy. Its mission is to foster growth and attractiveness for the European raw materials sector. Through radical innovation, new education models and strategic advisory, EIT RawMaterials is developing raw materials into a major strength for Europe.

In alignment with the CRMA, EIT RawMaterials is focusing on three key areas to achieve success: closing material loops, securing raw materials supply, and designing materials solutions.

Commenting on Anglo American joining as a partner, EIT RawMaterials said:

“We are delighted to welcome Anglo American to our growing network of partners committed to building a sustainable and resilient raw materials value chain in Europe!

“As a global leader in mining and resource development, Anglo American brings deep sector expertise and a strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and responsible sourcing – values that are closely aligned with our mission.

“This strategic partnership strengthens our joint efforts to accelerate Europe’s green and digital transitions, enhance supply chain resilience, and drive forward industrial competitiveness in line with the EU's 2030 objectives.

“We look forward to collaborating with Anglo American to foster impactful innovation and sustainable solutions for the raw materials sector.”