Poland focuses on natural material sovereignty. Lower Silesia can become a key region in search of uncommon earth elements, graphite and copper. EU backing and fresh regulations are expected to accelerate the discovery of deposits.
According to reports from the diary of Legal Newspaper, the draft law implementing EU government will be consulted as early as the end of June Critical natural Materials Act (CRMA). This is simply a key step in making Europe independent of imports of strategical natural materials. The paper will include, among others, provisions on facilitations for mining projects and fresh natural materials policy to be adopted by the government in 2025.
Lower Silesia in the center of geologists interest
Ministry of Climate and Environment announced the launch National Critical Resources Search Programme for the period 2026–2033. investigation focuses on Lower Silesia, where there may be rich deposits graphite, copper, platinum, barite and fluorite.
– Lower Silesia is simply a region with enormous, not yet full discovered potential – says Professor Krzysztof Galos, the country's main geologist. – The graphite is peculiarly important, essential for battery production.
The European Union is fighting for natural materials independence
According to the data cited by the ‘DGP’, The EU imports 97% magnesium from China, 98% boranas from Turkey, and 100% uncommon earth metals to magnets are refined in the Central State. According to the global Energy Agency (IAE), dependence on key suppliers increased from 82% to 86% between 2020 and 2024.
In response, the EU has launched 47 strategical projects value EUR 22.5 billion. 2 of them are implemented in Poland:
- Polvolt – recycling of automotive batteries,
- Plant of Refining of uncommon Earth Elements in Puławy.
Will Poland avoid dependence on China?
New investments and exploration are intended to strengthen energy and industrial safety of the country. In the coming years, it will be crucial not only to discover fresh resources but besides to make technologies for their processing.
Will Lower Silesia become a Polish core of critical natural materials? Everything depends on the results of investigation and the effectiveness of implementation of EU regulations.
Read more:
Lower Silesia Treasurer of Critical Resources? large investment for PLN 182.5 million begins
