In a strategic movement to promote the transition to clean energy, Chile and the European Union (EU) have finalized the “technical closure” of a roadmap for the joint development of critical raw materials, with special emphasis on lithium. This agreement, reached in Santiago, seeks to ensure the sustainable supply of minerals essential for green technologies, such as electric vehicle batteries.
The Minister of Mining of Chile, Aurora Williams, stressed that this collaboration will improve production and add value to critical minerals through the incorporation of new technologies. For his part, Félix Fernández Shaw, director of Latin America and the Caribbean of the Directorate General of International Partnerships of the European Commission, underlined the importance of this alliance to confront climate change and advance the energy transition.
The agreement contemplates concrete actions in research, development and innovation, as well as in environmental and sustainability criteria. In addition, it will focus on capacity building and human capital training, aligning with the objective of generating added value in Chile. The Undersecretary of International Economic Relations of Chile, Claudia Sanhueza, emphasized that this roadmap is in line with the Advanced Framework Agreement between Chile and the EU, currently in legislative process.
This agreement does not give particular priority to European companies, but seeks comprehensive cooperation that benefits both parties. The growing demand for lithium, driven by the need for clean energy and electromobility, positions Chile, the world’s second largest producer of this mineral, as a key partner on the global stage.
In parallel, the Aragonese company SAMCA has started a strategic project for underground mining of lithium and feldspars in Beariz, Ourense. This project, supported by the EU, seeks to ensure the supply of critical raw materials and contemplates an investment of 120 million euros. The works are expected to begin in 2026, with an estimated useful life of 42 years, and the creation of between 100 and 200 direct jobs, contributing to the economic development of the Galician region.
In addition, in Spain, a geologist from the Geological and Mining Institute has identified a rare earth site in Extremadura, considered unique in the country. This finding could boost sectors such as technology, motoring and defense, reinforcing the strategic autonomy of the European Union in essential raw materials.
These initiatives reflect a global trend towards the diversification of sources of critical raw materials, essential for electromobility and sustainable technologies. The collaboration between Chile and the EU, together with strategic projects in Spain, underlines the importance of establishing international alliances to guarantee a stable and responsible supply of these resources within the framework of the green transition.
