The European Commission designated 46 additional strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act on 9 October. Regional selections include an Aurubis copper-processing expansion at Pirdop in Bulgaria and Romanian projects for electric-vehicle battery recycling and magnesium processing. [1] [2] [3]
SeeNews reported that the Pirdop expansion is expected to lift refined-copper output by about 50% to 340,000 tonnes a year. The Romanian recycling project at Răcari is intended to recover cobalt, battery-grade lithium, manganese, graphite and nickel; the second Romanian selection covers magnesium processing. [2] [3]
ContextStrategic status is intended to support EU supply-chain resilience and streamlined project development. It is not a guarantee that every facility is complete, fully financed or producing at the announced capacity. [1]