‘It’s Russian roulette’: alarm as Europe backs critical minerals mines in water-stressed regions | Mining
The analysis found that the European Commission plans to rewrite the EU’s flagship water conservation law to accelerate the development of critical mineral mines, even though many of them are located in dry and water-stressed regions.
Mining is a water-intensive industry that requires large amounts of water for ore processing, dust suppression, waste management and mine dewatering. Although modern projects recycle water, significant amounts of water are still needed, and in water-stressed regions these demands can increase pressure on already stretched rivers, aquifers and water supplies.
Analysis and mapping An investigation shared with the Guardian by Watershed Investigations found that more than half of the 33 planned new or expanded mines designated as “strategic projects” under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, according to NASA satellite data, were located in areas that have dried out over the past two decades.
According to EU data, almost half of them are in regions where drought conditions have been experienced in the last three months, and one quarter are in regions experiencing water shortage.
Six of the strategic mines are planned for areas of Spain with high water stress, while others are planned in Portugal and Greece. All three countries are among the top 10 EU countries with the worst water scarcity, according to the European Environment Agency.
In 2024, the Spanish region of Catalonia declared a state of emergency due to the worst ever drought, and water use restrictions were introduced in Andalusia. According to the EU’s Earth observation program, 96% of Portugal faced “extreme” or “severe” drought conditions in 2022.
Some projects have already sparked fierce opposition. Environmental organization Ecologistas en Acción is objecting to the European Commission’s decision to grant strategic project status to all six Spanish mines, arguing that the risks to water resources, biodiversity and protected areas were not properly assessed.
Global demand for critical minerals has tripled since 2010, as countries raced to build artificial intelligence infrastructure, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies and defense systems. The need for graphite, lithium and cobalt is projected to increase by almost 500% from 2020 levels by 2050. This figure is expected to more than double again by 2030.
Concerned about dependence on imports, the EU has designated 47 mining, processing and recycling projects, including 33 mines, as “strategic projects”. This designation puts projects within the EU on the fast track through permitting processes and is designed to speed up development. Those outside the bloc will gain political support and potential access to EU funding.
In a move that has alarmed environmental groups, Brussels is set to revise the water framework directive (WFD) – the EU’s key law protecting rivers, groundwater and wetlands – in a bid to remove permitting bottlenecks and improve access to strategic minerals.
Euromines, Europe’s mining and metals industry trade association, is pushing for these changes. He wants longer deadlines for countries to meet water quality targets, changes to the application of the WFD’s “no deterioration” rule to water bodies, and greater legal certainty for mining and other industrial projects.
Environmental groups fear the proposed changes could weaken protections but the industry body rejects the proposal and insists it is “not a permit to pollute”.
A Euromines spokesperson said: “Our overall priority is to continue to engage constructively with policymakers to ensure legal clarity and predictability for permitting authorities, as well as strong environmental safeguards.”
The European Commission defended the choice of mines, saying strategic projects were assessed by independent experts and must comply with EU environmental laws. A spokesman said the WFD review would consider environmental and water impact assessments carried out by national authorities and ways to improve access to critical raw materials while protecting the environment and human health.
But Sara Johansson, water policy manager at the European Environment Bureau, said the plans were reckless. He said the mining industry “has not provided even a shred of evidence” that the WFD is creating bottlenecks for mining projects.
“Removing these protections undermines Europe’s water resilience, leaving taxpayers, farmers and communities to pay with both their health and their wallets,” Johansson said.
Prof Kaveh Madani, Director of the Institute for Water, Environment and Health at the United Nations University, also warned against removing protections. “The measures that are now portrayed as obstacles are already fragile and full of loopholes. Their removal may be celebrated as efficiency today, but history may judge it as recklessness tomorrow,” he said.
He added: “Accelerating mining by weakening conservation measures in water-stressed areas is a form of Russian roulette. It may seem like an economic stimulus in the short term, but a serious failure in the wrong place can neutralize many of the promised gains, especially when the damage to people, rivers, groundwater and ecosystems is long-lasting or irreversible.”
Many companies have been contacted by controversial suggestions that their projects would put undue pressure on water resources. They noted environmental assessments, closed-loop water recycling systems, monitoring programs and regulatory oversight designed to minimize risks.
