The Romanian government has finalized an agreement with Critical Metals Corp, a U.S.-based firm, to establish a rare earth metal processing facility in Brașov, Romania. This initiative was confirmed by Romania’s Energy Minister, Bogdan Ivaș, during an interview with Antena 3 CNN.
Minister Ivaș stated that the project aims to position Romania as a significant player in the global rare earth metals industry. By mid-April, the Romanian authorities plan to outline the funding conditions for the plant’s construction and the specific metals it will process.
He emphasized that the initiative encompasses the entire economic cycle, from resource extraction at the Tanbreez site in Greenland to processing and final industrial use in Europe and the United States.
The minister also highlighted the European Union’s objective of achieving independence from Chinese processing of rare earth elements. He pointed out that Romania currently loses substantial resources due to a lack of local processing capabilities, noting that copper ore is sent to Turkey for processing and returned with a purity of 98%.
“Clearly, we are losing a lot. By establishing a processing plant that will serve not only Romania but also neighboring countries, we will become global players,” Ivaș remarked.
Critical Metals Corp underscored that this project will help reduce Europe’s and the United States’ reliance on Chinese supplies. The facility will be developed through joint financial efforts from both American and Romanian sides on a parity basis.
According to the company, this partnership with an EU and NATO member will create the first fully integrated supply chain for rare earth elements in the Western world, covering everything from extraction to the production of military and aerospace-grade magnets.
The Tanbreez site is estimated to contain 4.7 billion tons of resources, including 28.2 million tons of rare earth element oxides.
Romania has partnered with Critical Metals Corp to establish a rare earth metal processing plant in Brașov, aiming to enhance local processing capabilities and reduce reliance on Chinese supplies. The project will support the EU's goal of independence in the rare earth sector.