Projects involving critical raw materials

Access to raw materials is essential for the EU economy and for the functioning of the internal market. Some types of raw materials (not related either to agriculture or to energy) are considered critical due to their great economic importance and since they constitute a high supply risk, often because they originate from a small number of third countries. The demand for many of these critical raw materials is likely to increase exponentially in the coming decades, given their key role in bringing about the green and digital transitions.

In response to this situation, and in order to safeguard the functioning of the internal market, Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020, known as the ‘Critical Raw Materials Regulation’ or ‘CRMA’, has been adopted.

 

Relevant links:

• Critical raw materials - Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
• Study on the critical raw materials for the EU 2023 - Publications Office of the EU

Article 9 of the ‘CRMA’ provides that Member States must establish or designate one or more authorities as single points of contact for projects relating to critical raw materials.

Pursuant to Article 9 of the Regulation, the following tasks and powers will be assigned to that point of contact:

• (i) They will be responsible for facilitating and coordinating the process of granting permits for critical raw materials projects and for providing information in this regard.

• (ii) They will assist the project owner in understanding any administrative issues relevant to the permit granting process.

• (iii) They will ensure that all valid studies carried out or previous permits or authorisations are taken into account, in order to avoid duplication.

• (iv) They will ensure that applicants have easy access to the necessary information and to dispute resolution procedures.

In accordance with the current division of powers in Spain between the different levels of government, a single point of contact is established at national level and single points of contact are established for each autonomous community. Owners of a project involving critical raw materials must contact the point of contact assigned according to the project’s planned location.

For information on points of contact, you can view this interactive map of single points of contact. 

The Spanish Constitution reserves exclusive jurisdiction over mining arrangements to the State.

The autonomous communities, through organic laws on the transfer of powers and their respective statutes of autonomy, are then responsible for the development, management and implementation of those arrangements. This includes processing permits, granting licences and the mining police.

The State acts as the decision-making body only where the resources sought are located on land belonging to two or more autonomous communities, or on the continental shelf, or in areas reserved for the State.

In general terms, mining is governed by Law 22/1973 of 21 July on Mining and its corresponding amendments, its implementing regulations Royal Decree 2857/1978 of 25 August approving the General Regulations for the Mining Regime, and Law 21/2013 of 9 December on environmental assessment and Royal Decree 975/2009 of 12 June on the management of waste from mining and quarrying and the protection and rehabilitation of areas affected by mining.

Each of the 17 autonomous communities may lay down additional mining regulations, provided that the basic framework established under national legislation is respected.

For further information on the permit granting process in each autonomous community, you can view this interactive map of single points of contact.

Details of the services provided through central government are provided below.:

FIEM- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise

The FIEM is a government fund set up to promote the internationalisation of Spanish businesses through direct financing – in the form of medium and long-term senior debt – of their export operations and overseas investments. It cannot finance investment projects in Spain.

COFIDES

COFIDES provides direct medium and long-term financing for viable investment projects in Spain and abroad that contribute to the internationalisation of the Spanish economy and of Spanish companies. Financing may take the form of temporary minority stakes in the share capital or quasi-equity, or may be through senior debt. This financial support is channelled through the management of various government funds:

• FIEX Fund (Fund for investments abroad)

• FONPYME (Fund for investments abroad by small and medium-sized enterprises)

• FOCO (Co-investment Fund). This fund is only to support projects in Spain as a co-investment with foreign investors.

Official Credit Institute

The Official Credit Institute (ICO) offers a wide range of financial products, including direct and indirect financing, in collaboration with other private or public financial institutions – whether national, international or multinational. Financing can be provided for investment projects, developing export trade or corporate expansion plans. The projects may be based in Spain or may be abroad, provided they have a Spanish interest. Financing can be either on a short-term basis, to meet liquidity needs, or for the medium to long term.

Cesce

Cesce is the Spanish export credit agency (ECA) that manages insurance on behalf of the State for projects of interest in the internationalisation of the Spanish economy. This instrument provides financing coverage and guarantees for a wide range of export and investment projects carried out by Spanish companies, both in Spain and abroad. This State-backed insurance facilitates the release of funding and guarantees from financial institutions.

CARI- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise

This instrument provides coverage for the interest rate risk through an interest make-up agreement (IMU) with the financial institutions which fund Spanish companies’ export projects.

This incentivises financial institutions to provide medium to long-term export credits at competitive fixed interest rates.

Grants aimed at encouraging private-sector participation in the initiative to improve awareness of Spain’s mineral resources within the framework of the national mining exploration programme 2026–2030.

Procedure fact sheet – MITECO online portal

CDTI grants

The CDTI acts as a funding agent within the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System. Among other tasks, it is responsible for managing the programmes or instruments assigned to it by the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research, primarily within the framework of business R&D&I.

Grants and Services | CDTI

IDAE

The Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) is a public body whose main role is to design and manage programmes that enable Spain to achieve its objectives in terms of improving energy efficiency, renewable energy and other low-carbon technologies. These objectives form the strategic framework for its activities.

In this regard, the IDAE carries out outreach and training activities, provides technical advice, develops specific programmes and funds technological innovation projects that can be replicated. Furthermore, the Institute is at the forefront of many international activities carried out within the framework of various European programmes and cooperation with third countries.

Grants and financing | IDAE

ITJ

The Just Transition Institute (ITJ) is promoting funding schemes aimed at businesses with the aim of fostering economic recovery and job creation in just transition areas – regions affected by the closure of coal mines, coal-fired power stations and nuclear power stations.

Grants for companies

SEPIDES

SEPI Desarrollo Empresarial, S.A., S.M.E. (SEPIDES) is a business group belonging to the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales [State Company for Industrial Investments] (SEPI), a public body under the Ministry of Finance. With a history stretching back over 100 years, we promote economic and environmental development, encourage job creation and improve the competitiveness of Spanish businesses.

Sepides – Public Enterprise Finance Company

MINTUR

The aid programs managed by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism are available at the following link:

Support Portal of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism

ENISA

ENISA provides financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises wishing to drive forward their innovative business ventures.

It supports viable business projects through an alternative financing option that enables access to more diverse sources of funding.

Enisa with innovative entrepreneurship.

EOI

The Industrial Organisation School (EOI) manages various support programmes for businesses and entrepreneurs, including the ACTIVA programmes and the Digital Innovation Hubs Support Programme (PADIH).

School of Business – EOI School of Industrial Organization

CERSA

The Compañia Española de Reafianzamiento, S.A. [Spanish Bonding Company] (CERSA) implements one of Spain’s most well-established public-private financing support schemes: guarantees for SMEs and the self-employed provided by the guarantee mechanisms.

CERSA provides support by its bonding coverage to the guarantee mechanism in Spain, which comprises CERSA, the 18 mutual guarantee schemes (MGSs) and SAECA (Spanish Agricultural Guarantee Company). The risks assumed by these guarantee schemes are backed by the State through CERSA.

CERSA - Compañía Española de Reafianzamiento, S.A. (cersa-sme.es)

PORTAL IPYME

Calls for applications published in official journals – EU, national, regional, provincial and local – feed into the database of grants and incentives for businesses, as does information from official bodies that publicise their schemes through other channels.

The database contains all existing measures, in the form of subsidies, loans, tax incentives or guarantees, etc. The search function provides this information with three levels of detail. The first level shows you a list of grants or incentives relevant to your search. If you wish, and you select a specific help topic, you will be shown a fact sheet with the most relevant information. Lastly, you will be able to access the full document, which gives more detailed information and the text of the call for applications.

Grants and incentives for companies search tool

The European Union offers funding through a wide range of programmes designed to support projects in the field of raw materials. These financial instruments are aligned with European priorities concerning strategic autonomy and the green and digital transition, with a particular focus on promoting:

1. the diversification and security of supply of raw materials;

2. the development of internal extraction and processing capacities;

3. the improvement of recycling and the circular economy;

4. research, technological development and innovation.

European Union funding takes different forms:

• grants applied for generally by submitting a project idea in response to a call for proposals;

• funds managed by national or regional authorities, such as the Cohesion Fund or the ERDF;

• financial instruments in the form of loans, guarantees and capital aimed at facilitating investments in projects aligned with EU policies and programmes;

• prizes for the winners of Horizon Europe competitions.

You can see the different EU programmes and funding options by clicking on the following links:

• Funding, grants, subsidies | European Union (europa.eu)

• Access to finance - European Commission (europa.eu)

 

According to figures from the Commission, more than EUR 1.8 billion was allocated to critical raw materials initiatives in the 2014–2020 and 2021–2027 periods. The most significant contributions come from Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, followed by innovation, cohesion and development funds.

Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP)

STEP is a key initiative for channelling and boosting investments in strategic sectors, including critical raw materials. Its aim is to improve coordination between different European financial instruments and to facilitate access to funding for key projects, thereby strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the European economy.

Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) | European Union

EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK (EIB)

The EIB provides funding for projects that contribute to achieving the objectives of the European Union.

Critical raw materials

In the case of central government, businesses may apply for assistance through:

• Portal IPYME
• ICEX | Spain Export and Investments