Belgium may be poised to re-enter the critical minerals race, as a leading political party proposes reviving local mining to extract essential raw materials from European soil. The move aims to reduce the European Union’s dependence on China and help Europe compete in electric vehicles (EVs), clean energy, and defence technologies such as drones.
The proposal comes from Belgium’s French-speaking liberal Reformist Movement (MR) party and has already sparked significant debate. While Belgium currently has no active mines, the country historically produced zinc and lead and processed cobalt, copper, bismuth, and tin—metals now in renewed demand. Modern EV batteries and clean energy technologies rely heavily on lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, copper, and aluminium, placing these materials at the heart of Europe’s industrial ambitions.
Europe’s critical raw materials challenge
Europe faces a serious strategic vulnerability: most of its raw materials are imported, with China dominating key markets. Analysts note that China controls up to 90% of some critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements, leaving the EU highly exposed.
“Even if Europe started mining tomorrow, it would still struggle to compete,” said Varg Folkman, analyst at Brussels-based EPC think tank. “Social and environmental regulations, long project timelines, financing challenges, and potential price undercutting by Chinese competitors make domestic mining difficult.”
Charlotte de Montpellier, senior economist at ING Belgium, highlighted China’s pricing power: “China exports excess production at artificially low prices, leveraging cheap energy, low wages, and state subsidies to dominate global markets.”
Could Belgium rediscover untapped resources?
While Belgium’s known economic reserves are limited, proponents argue that modern geological studies and advanced mining technologies may uncover new opportunities. The Jean Gol Centre, a Belgian think-tank, recommends exploring these possibilities under strict environmental and social safeguards.
Meanwhile, the EU is working to diversify supply chains through trade agreements and strategic partnerships. Deals with Chile, a key supplier of lithium and copper, include sustainability rules and aim to reduce reliance on China. The EU’s Global Gateway strategy also targets Central Asia, while Chile has cut mining permit approval times by up to 70% to attract investment.
Europe’s industrial challenge
Experts warn that trade deals alone cannot secure European refineries or industrial capacity overnight. Stefan Scherer, CEO of AMG Lithium in Germany, told The Guardian:
“Europe’s dependence has gone so far that it may as well be a province of China.”
The International Energy Agency (IEA) echoed this concern in its 2025 Outlook, calling for price stabilisation mechanisms to make mining and refining projects financially viable in Europe. Without coordinated industrial strategy and long-term investment, the EU risks losing ground to low-cost producers like China and Indonesia.
The Critical Raw Materials Act sets targets for domestic sourcing and recycling, but analysts argue that Europe still lacks scale, coordination, and industrial planning. Many of these metals are also strategically important for defence, giving China further leverage.
The path forward
Europe does not need to mine everything at home, but without significant investment, smarter incentives, and long-term supply strategies, the continent risks remaining dependent on foreign producers. Belgium’s proposal could serve as a test case for a new European mining era, balancing sustainability, innovation, and strategic autonomy in the race for critical minerals.
