Spain’s Untapped Mining Potential Gains Renewed Interest

Thursday 20 March 2025 - 09:10

By: Zahouani Ilham

Spain’s Untapped Mining Potential Gains Renewed Interest

Spain, a key player in the European mining sector, operates 2,600 mines, generating annual revenues of €3.5 billion ($3.8 billion). As the EU's second-largest producer of copper and magnesite, Spain holds significant yet largely unexplored mineral wealth, according to experts in the field.

Geologist Ester Boixereu from the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain emphasized the country’s vast underground resources and the need for further exploration. Recent discoveries in the south and west of Spain have revealed deposits of lithium, cobalt, tungsten, nickel, and rare earth elements—minerals essential for green energy technologies, including electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, and smartphones.

As Europe seeks to reduce reliance on external suppliers, particularly China, the EU has pushed for increased domestic production of these strategic materials. In March, Spain’s environment ministry unveiled a national mining program aimed at mapping new mineral deposits and existing reserves. The plan also includes a potential reform of the country’s outdated 50-year-old mining law to enhance national and European strategic autonomy in a shifting geopolitical landscape, according to Secretary of State for Energy, Joan Groizard.

Despite its economic promise, the sector faces bureaucratic delays and environmental concerns. While around 30 mining permit applications have been submitted—primarily in Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura, where companies target rare earths and lithium—progress has been uneven. Vicente Gutiérrez Peinador, president of Spain’s mining and metallurgy confederation, pointed to administrative hurdles and political reluctance at the regional level, where approvals are granted.

Public concerns center on the environmental impact of mining operations, particularly the use of chemicals and high water consumption—an issue exacerbated by Spain’s prolonged droughts. Environmental group Friends of the Earth has warned that a mining expansion could increase accidents and worsen ecological and social consequences. However, Boixereu noted that modern mining practices are significantly more regulated than in the past.

Despite cautious optimism from industry leaders, uncertainty remains over the financial backing for the government’s initiative. The mining sector awaits concrete measures to transform Spain’s untapped resources into a sustainable economic driver.