European Commission includes Jadar among strategic projects outside of EU

The European Commission adopted the first list of 13 Strategic Projects on strategic raw materials located outside of the EU, including in overseas countries or territories. Among the projects is the Jadar project of Rio Tinto in Serbia.

The list specifies that this pertains to mining extraction of lithium for batteries and boron for metallurgy use carried out by the daughter company of Rio Tinto - Rio Sava Exploration doo.

– The Strategic Projects will diversify the EU's sources of supply and increase economic security. At the same time, the projects are designed to boost local value creation in third countries – the EC announced.

This initiative complements the list of 47 Strategic Projects in the EU, adopted on March 25, 2025. In total, all 60 Strategic Projects will contribute to the competitiveness of EU's industry and in particular sectors such as electro mobility, renewable energy, defense and aerospace.

Those projects are the first results of the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act which entered into force in May 2024.

Among the 13 Strategic Projects, seven are located in Canada, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Norway, Serbia, Ukraine, Zambia, with whom the EU has a strategic partnership on raw materials value chains; two are located in an overseas country or territory, Greenland and New Caledonia; and the remaining ones are located in Brazil, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Ten of these Strategic Projects concern strategic raw materials essential for electric vehicle, batteries and battery storage, like lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite. Two Strategic Projects cover the extraction of rare earth elements, which play a key role in producing high-performance magnets used in wind turbines or electric motors for renewable energy technologies and electro mobility. Combined with the three Strategic Projects in the EU that cover the processing of rare earths, these additional Strategic Projects will be able to increase the EU's security of supply of rare earths. Strategic Projects also cover copper, used from power-grid to microelectronics, tungsten, and boron, used in the automotive, renewable energy, aerospace and defense sectors.

– The selected Strategic Projects were assessed by independent experts to ensure that they meet the criteria established in the Critical Raw Materials Act, notably regarding environmental, social and governance standards as well as technical feasibility. In addition, the projects have to be mutually beneficial and bring benefits both to the EU and to the third countries concerned. The projects had to demonstrate the prospects of contributing to EU supply security, for instance through concluding off-take agreements with European downstream industries – the press release says.

Benefits for the selected projects

The selected Strategic Projects will benefit from coordinated support by the Commission, Member States and financial institutions in the form of facilitating access to finance and contacts with relevant off-takers. It is estimated that the 13 Strategic Projects outside of the EU need an overall capital investment of EUR 5.5 billion to start operations.

The Commission, it is added, will also reinforce cooperation with the third countries concerned to ensure the development of those projects, especially through the Strategic Partnerships already concluded with some of these countries on raw materials value chains.

The Critical Raw Materials Act entered into force on May 23, 2024. On the same day, the Commission published a call for submission of proposals for recognition of projects as Strategic Projects with a cut-off date on August 22, 2024.

Rio Tinto: Confirmation received that Jadar project can be developed in accordance with EU standards

Rio Tinto today welcomed the European Commission's decision to declare its "Jadar" project to open a lithium mine near Loznica a strategic project under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).

– This decision confirms that the "Jadar" project can be developed in accordance with EU standards and indicates its great importance for Serbia and the EU and for the secure supply of critical raw materials necessary for the green transition – the company said in a statement.

It adds that the Jadar project is one of the most promising and best researched lithium projects in Europe and that with an estimated production of 58,000 tons of lithium carbonate per year, Serbia has the potential to become a key player in the electric vehicle supply chain.

– The EU's decision to declare "Jadar" a project of strategic importance confirms that Serbia has an important role to play in Europe's energy and digital future. We are committed to developing the project in accordance with Serbian laws and European standards, with a transparent approach and ongoing dialogue with all stakeholders – said the Jadar Project Managing Director Chad Blewitt.

He added that the project was included among the strategic projects outside the EU territory, which confirms its strategic importance, technical feasibility and compliance with environmental protection, social responsibility and corporate governance (ESG) standards.

– Lithium from Serbia has the potential to become an important component of the European value chain in the field of batteries, which allows Serbia to integrate into this strategic sector. The project opens up opportunities for strong economic growth through the development of the local value chain and attracting new investments in high-tech sectors – Blewitt assessed.

The Rio Tinto statement says that, before starting the construction of the mine and processing plant, it is necessary to carry out a number of legally prescribed procedures, which include the continuation of the project development in terms of permits, updating the environmental impact assessment studies, public review and the final obtaining of all necessary permits and approvals.

The company emphasizes that it remains committed to dialogue with all stakeholders and to implementing the project in full compliance with environmental protection standards and regulatory requirements of Serbia and the EU.

Rio Sava Exploration d.o.o. Beograd

European Commission

Rio Tinto

Rio Sava

Jadar

lithium

boron

Critical Raw Materials Act

Strategic Projects list