Romania has taken an important step toward restoring domestic graphite production after approving the resumption of mining activities in the Baia de Fier graphite district, putting key deposits back on the development path.
The decision covers areas including Catalinu and Ungurelașu, removing the deposits from the framework for permanent mine closure. The move clears a major regulatory obstacle for state-controlled SALROM, which is pursuing plans for an integrated Romanian graphite supply chain.
SALROM Targets €630 Million Investment
SALROM’s development pipeline includes around €198 million for graphite extraction and primary processing, approximately €250 million for advanced battery-grade processing and another €180 million for recycling and processing historic mining tailings. Combined, the potential investment programme approaches €630 million, although the projects remain at different stages of development and should not be viewed as a single fully financed construction programme.
The strategic importance of Baia de Fier comes from graphite’s role in lithium-ion battery anodes. Europe remains heavily dependent on imported natural graphite and processed graphite products, making new regional sources increasingly important for the battery and energy-storage industries.
From Graphite Mining to Battery Materials
Reopening the deposits does not automatically mean that commercial production or construction is imminent. SALROM will still need to secure financing, complete permitting and demonstrate that the graphite can be economically extracted and processed to the quality required by battery manufacturers. The downstream processing stage could prove particularly important. Producing raw graphite ore generates significantly less value than delivering purified, upgraded or anode-grade material that meets the technical specifications of European battery producers.
The proposed recycling and tailings projects could further increase the value of the development by recovering material from historic mining waste while addressing legacy environmental liabilities.
Romania Strengthens Critical-Minerals Position
Baia de Fier benefits from Romania’s existing mining infrastructure, EU membership, access to European financing mechanisms and proximity to major battery-manufacturing markets in Central Europe.
The project also fits into Europe’s broader effort to develop more secure domestic supply chains for critical raw materials and reduce dependence on imports.
For Southeast Europe, the reopening of Baia de Fier could become an important example of how historic mining districts are being repositioned for the clean-energy economy. The government decision removes a significant regulatory barrier, but the project’s next major milestone will depend on whether SALROM can turn the €630 million development pipeline into financed projects, deploy suitable processing technology and ultimately establish a commercially viable battery-grade graphite supply chain.
