Eurobattery Minerals is shifting its Tungsten San Juan project in Galicia from a strategic development concept into a more execution-focused mining operation, strengthening its technical leadership team and preparing the asset for potential production in 2027. The company has appointed Alba Valle Pajares as Directora Facultativa, the senior technical manager responsible for overseeing mining operations, while placing her alongside recently appointed Project Director Pedro Jiménez de Francisco within a permanent operational structure at A Gudiña, Galicia.
The move represents an important transition for the company. San Juan is no longer focused only on permits, financing discussions and investor communication. The project is entering a phase where operational execution, mine planning, mineral processing, safety systems, supplier management and industrial readiness will determine its success.
Experienced Mining Leadership Strengthens San Juan Development
The appointment of Pajares adds significant operational experience to Eurobattery Minerals’ project team.
Her previous roles at CEMEX Spain, Cementos Portland and Cupa Pizarras provided experience across multiple areas of mining operations, including:
- Mine management
- Mineral processing
- Occupational health and safety
- Operational team coordination
Jiménez de Francisco brings additional expertise from the tungsten sector, having previously worked as plant manager at the Barruecopardo tungsten mine in Salamanca, one of Spain’s most recognised tungsten operations. For a smaller listed mining developer, the combination of mining and processing expertise sends a clear message to potential financiers, customers and local stakeholders: Eurobattery Minerals is attempting to establish the operational capabilities required to move from project development into commercial production.
Ownership Increase Strengthens Strategic Control
The leadership changes come shortly after Eurobattery Minerals expanded its ownership position in Tungsten San Juan. The company increased its stake from 51% to 58.58% through a €700,000 debt-to-equity conversion, reinforcing its majority ownership shortly before announcing the new operational structure.
Eurobattery has also secured access to additional financing through a SEK 60 million convertible bond facility with Loft Capital.
The first SEK 10 million drawdown will support:
- Development of the Tungsten San Juan project
- Progress at the Hautalampi battery mineral project in Finland
- General working capital requirements
The financing provides additional flexibility as the company moves into more capital-intensive development activities.
Metallurgical Testing Will Define Processing Strategy
The future success of San Juan will depend heavily on metallurgy as well as mining. Earlier in 2026, Eurobattery Minerals delivered approximately 1,000 kilograms of wolfram-bearing material for advanced metallurgical testing by SLR Consulting in the United Kingdom.
The programme is being coordinated with Minepro Solutions, the company responsible for the final engineering design of the planned processing facility.
The testwork programme includes:
- Crushing analysis
- Material classification
- Grade distribution studies
- Gravity-based tungsten recovery testing
Results are expected in Q3 2026 and will play a crucial role in determining the project’s final processing flowsheet.
The outcomes will influence key development decisions, including:
- Plant design
- Recovery rates
- Processing costs
- Tailings management
- Commissioning risks
For investors, these results represent one of the most important upcoming milestones because they will provide greater visibility into the technical and economic viability of the operation.
Tungsten’s Strategic Importance Supports European Development
San Juan is being developed at a time when Europe is increasingly focused on securing domestic supplies of critical raw materials.
The European Commission classifies tungsten as a critical raw material due to its importance in industrial applications and limited global supply concentration.
The EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act has established ambitious 2030 targets, including:
- 10% domestic extraction capacity
- 40% processing capacity
- 25% recycling capacity
The legislation aims to reduce dependence on external suppliers and strengthen European supply chains for strategically important materials.
Tungsten plays an essential role in sectors including:
- Defence manufacturing
- Industrial cutting tools
- Aerospace applications
- Advanced machinery
- High-performance manufacturing
Within this broader policy environment, San Juan is positioned not only as a Spanish mining project but also as part of Europe’s effort to rebuild local access to essential industrial metals.
2027 Production Target Faces Critical Execution Phase
The investment question surrounding San Juan is becoming increasingly focused:
Can Eurobattery Minerals transform a permitted tungsten project into a functioning mining operation by the first quarter of 2027?
Achieving that goal will depend on several critical factors:
- Successful metallurgical test results
- Completion of engineering studies
- Procurement of processing equipment
- Availability of project financing
- Confirmation of commercial partnerships
- Effective construction and commissioning
The recent management appointments improve confidence in the project timeline, but they also increase expectations. The market will now focus less on strategic announcements and more on measurable execution milestones.
From Development Story to Operational Reality
San Juan has entered the most demanding stage of the mining development cycle.
The project now has:
- Increased ownership control
- A dedicated operational management team
- Access to financing
- A defined production objective
- A clear role within Europe’s critical minerals strategy
The next phase will determine whether these foundations can be converted into actual tungsten concentrate production, operating revenue and a long-term position in the European raw materials market. For Eurobattery Minerals, the coming months will be a test of whether strategic positioning can become industrial reality as Europe accelerates its search for secure supplies of critical metals.
