Spain is known to host a range of mineral resources, with its geological diversity making it a key producer in the European Union (EU) of copper, tungsten, fluorspar, magnesite, and bentonite, among other minerals.
The intense focus on critical minerals production and stockpiling globally has elevated interest in Spain’s mining sector in recent years, noting its potential to provide a number of key resources.
The Spanish Government has laid out a 2026–2030 Action Plan for the Sustainable Management of Mineral Raw Materials, a regulatory initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s position within the critical minerals economy while advancing a more sustainable, innovative, and competitive mining sector for the country.
The action plan lays out €414 million ($681 million) in public investment towards these goals, including the launch of the National Mineral Exploration Program (PNEM), setting aside €182 million for in-country exploration with the aim of unlocking the country’s mineral potential and supporting the companies doing the work.
The plan also includes 34 different interdepartmental measures focused across the raw materials value chain that look at regulatory actions to improve the administrative and legal frameworks, sectoral measures to support the development of the extractive industry, actions to enhance institutional coordination, and other research, development, and innovation initiatives.
The sustainability focus comes through in separate goals focused on strategic autonomy for local suppliers, industrial development, the circular economy, and responsible and environmentally sound resource management.
Elementos’ Oropesa gains momentum in Spain’s multilayered regulatory system
One key thing to understand about Spain’s regulatory environment is that it is fractured, with each autonomous region responsible for mining approvals. This means that a particular project’s location within these autonomous regions can heavily influence whether or not a project gets permitted, as each region has its own political system and regulatory environment.
Elementos’ (ASX:ELT) Oropesa Tin Project operates in the Andalućia Autonomous Region, with Managing Director Joe David noting that this is Spain’s largest mining region based on both mine numbers and revenue, responsible for the production of 90% of Spain’s metallic mining output.
“The Oropesa Project also has a high ranking amongst prospective mining projects, being one of seven projects in the Project Accelerator Unit (a State Significant Project Group) and recently having been designated a project of ‘Overriding Public Interest’, both of which require the project to prove it provides material economic and social benefits to the sustainable development of the region,” David says.
David notes that the permitting regime is well regulated within Spain to ensure that approved mines are responsibly developed, operated, and rehabilitated, with high safety standards and oversight.
Spain’s membership in the EU makes it party to EU laws and regulations, with the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) of 2024 guiding that at least 10% of the EU’s annual consumption of raw materials be extracted within the EU, at least 40% of consumption must be from material processed in the EU, and at least 25% of annual consumption must come from domestic recycling.
Ready to stay ahead of the market?
Get stories like this, delivered direct to your inbox.
Oropesa is in a prime location, with the potential to deliver 10% of tin supply for the EU, a region that currently has zero tin production.
“Additionally, with our integrated (downstream) smelter option, we are set up to process more than 10% of the EU’s demand of tin, which is currently around 40,000 tonnes per year,” David says.
“This means the Oropesa Tin Project is primed to help the EU meet its objectives under the CRMA.”
Under the new PNEM, David notes that tin holds a key role, with Spain having elevated the metal as a ‘Priority Raw Material’ due to its indispensable role in semiconductor soldering required for microchips, EVs, and solar panels.
Oropesa has recently achieved a major permitting milestone through the Andalucian Government’s granting of ‘Overriding Public Interest Status’, recognising the project’s environmental, economic, and social benefits to the region.
David highlights that Spain is one of the most cost-competitive jurisdictions in Western Europe for mining projects due to its competitive energy costs, built-in premium infrastructure, and skilled domestic labour.
Elementos has executed a binding option agreement to acquire up to a 50% interest in Iberian Smelting SL, who owns the Robledallano tin smelter which is just 220km away from Oropesa. Final due diligence and upgrades are underway. The company notes that this option for in-country smelting will help to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions as well as bring down shipping time and costs to its clients in Asia.
Oropesa hosts a maiden ore reserve estimate of 15.9 million tonnes @ 0.36% tin, with a mineral resource estimate total of 19.6 million tonnes @ 0.39% tin. The Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) completed on the project outlines a robust project with strong economics over the 12-year mine life.
Record tungsten output positions EQ Resources as a key EU supplier
EQ Resources (ASX:EQR) is one of the largest tungsten producers outside China, Russia, and North Korea, delivering around 1,680 tonnes of tungsten trioxide (WO3) contained in concentrate in FY2025.
Managing Director Craig Bradshaw notes that “even at this figure, I think that positions EQR as the number one Western producer globally in 2025, and as we go forward, I expect us to maintain that position, even with others coming into the market”.
EQ Resources has an aspirational target to produce around 3,000–3,500 tonnes of WO3 across its assets in Spain and Australia.
The company achieved record production figures at the Barruecopardo Project in Spain in the second half of 2025. The project hosts a mineral resource of 22.9 million tonnes @ 0.2% WO3 with an approximate nine-year mine life.
EQR commenced phase one drilling at Barruecopardo in June 2026, in a program comprising 36 drill holes across 12,155m and targeting extensions to the north, south, and below the current open pit.
As previously reported, this drill program is focused on mine life extension while also improving the company’s understanding of deeper zones planned for mining.
EQR is focused on delivering tungsten into the growing global shortage, with Bradshaw noting the strategic value of tungsten as a core enabler across a number of new, future-facing technologies. With around 85% of current supply coming out of China, the race is on to develop diversified sources of tungsten supply.
EQ Resources is a global tungsten mining company focused on sustainable mining and processing practices with assets in Australia and Spain.
Spain’s push to expand its mineral raw material frameworks, backed by €414 million in investment and the launch of the PNEM, signals a decisive shift toward strengthening domestic supply, accelerating exploration, and aligning with EU-wide CRMA targets.
As permitting reforms, regional coordination, and downstream integration continue to evolve, Spain’s mining sector is entering a period of renewed competitiveness and strategic relevance across the EU value chain.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Images: Mining.com.au, Elementos, EQ Resources
