European dependence on critical raw materials This has become one of the main challenges for the energy transition and digitalization. Materials such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential for manufacturing batteries, solar panels, semiconductors, and electronic equipment, but their supply is concentrated in a few countries, creating a strategic vulnerability. To address this situation, Spain has launched two complementary initiatives They seek to recover these materials from waste and old mining operations.
On the one hand, the SERVET project, led by a business consortium and supported by the CDTI (Center for the Development of Industrial Technology), is investigating new processes for extracting critical metals from complex waste streams. On the other hand, the Ministry for Ecological Transition has designated four mining areas in Andalusia to study the valorization of historical waste. Both initiatives align with the European strategy of reducing external dependence and promoting the circular economy. with the aim of strengthening the continent's industrial sovereignty.
SERVET Project: recovery of critical metals from complex waste
The SERVET project, whose full name is "Research into new circular economy processes in service of strategic sovereignty," focuses on the valorization of post-consumer and industrial waste. Among the waste streams to be processed are photovoltaic and hybrid panels, printed circuit boards (PCBs), metallic fractions from industrial processes, and other highly complex solid waste. From these streams, The aim is to recover copper, silicon, tantalum, niobium, silver and tin, materials considered essential for sectors such as electronics, renewable energy, automotive and energy storage.
To achieve efficient recovery, the consortium will combine advanced pretreatment technologies, intelligent waste sorting, hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes, and real-time characterization systems. These techniques include RGB machine vision, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), and LIBS, NIR, and Raman spectroscopies, all supported by artificial intelligence algorithms. The integration of these tools will optimize the identification and separation of materials.improving the quality of the recovered products.
The consortium is led by FRAGNOR, Técnicas Reunidas Internacional, Atlantic Copper, Abora Energy, Lenz Instruments, and Ingeniería Navarra Mecánica, with the collaboration of the technology centers GAIKER, Eurecat, Lurederra, and CENIM-CSIC. GAIKER, in particular, contributes its expertise in urban mining and recycling of waste, participating in the design of solutions to increase the recovery of critical raw materials. The project is funded by the CDTI and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities within the Missions Science and Innovation 2025 program.
Mineral reserves in Sierra Morena: research in old waste
Meanwhile, the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has registered a mining reserve in favor of the State in the Sierra Morena area, encompassing four former mining waste disposal sites in the provinces of Córdoba and Jaén. Specifically, these are the Santa Bárbara and Elena areas in Córdoba, and Paquito la Manzana and Centenillo in Jaén, totaling 22 mining grids. The objective is to investigate the presence of strategic minerals in the waste generated by historical mining. and assess its potential for appreciation.
The work will focus on minerals from Section B of the mining legislation, including antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, copper, nickel, silver, lead, and zinc. These are all considered essential raw materials for European industry due to their importance in sectors such as electronics, metallurgy, renewable energy, and the manufacture of advanced industrial components. The Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME-CSIC) and the public company HUNOSA will be in charge of developing the research for a minimum period of three years.
During the first phase, which begins in 2026, engineering and geological projects will be drawn up, as well as environmental restoration plans. Subsequently, geochemical campaigns, surface sampling, and boreholes will be carried out to characterize the potential of the waste. This reserve joins others already declared within the framework of the 2026-2030 National Mining Exploration Program, such as those of Morille (Salamanca and Ávila) and San Silvestre de Guzmán (Huelva). all aimed at reducing dependence on imported raw materials.
The combination of initiatives like SERVET and the Sierra Morena mining reserves reflects Spain's commitment to strategic autonomy in the supply of critical raw materials. While the former focuses on recovering metals from technological and industrial waste, the latter centers on valorizing waste from traditional mining. Both lines of work are framed within the European Critical Raw Materials Act, which aims to reduce dependence by promoting recycling and domestic production. The circular economy is thus consolidating itself as a key tool for industrial competitiveness and the reduction of external dependence, in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical context.
