The European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have jointly committed 100 million euros to critical raw material projects. This funding will support mineral exploration initiatives in EBRD’s operational countries and those participating in the Horizon Europe program. This includes both EU member states and non-EU countries where the EBRD is active across 36 economies.
Under this agreement, both institutions will contribute 25% of the equity, with the remaining 50% expected to be raised through a joint facility. The EBRD intends to invest in select junior mining companies involved in critical mineral exploration. These investments are designed to bridge the financial gap for companies that are in the exploration and development phase, which often spans several years or even decades before they start generating revenue.
This initiative supports the objectives of the Critical Raw Materials Act, which came into effect in May and seeks to enhance the EU’s domestic capacity for mining, refining, and recycling critical minerals.
