METLEN’s landmark investment for gallium production at the historic Aluminium of Greece factory has officially been recognized as a Strategic Project by the European Commission under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), the company announced. This decision was ratified on March 25, 2025.
The company highlights that this recognition marks a significant milestone for European metallurgy and Greece‘s mining activities, as it is the only project that crucially enhances Europe’s strategic autonomy in bauxite, alumina (and aluminum), and gallium—all recognized as “critical raw materials.”
Out of 170 projects submitted across Europe, 47 were approved from 13 EU member countries. The inclusion of METLEN’s vertically integrated project, which involves bauxite mining, expanding the alumina production unit, and producing 50 metric tons of gallium, in the list of selected CRMA strategic projects underlines the importance of these critical materials for the resilience of Europe’s supply chain.
It also paves the way for faster permitting processes, access to European funding, and stronger EU support.
The recognition of METLEN’s investment as strategically significant opens the door for the revival of mining activities after decades, boosting alumina production—which has been severely impacted in Europe—and ensuring the full substitution of gallium imports.
This will secure the production of catalytic equipment and technologies vital for energy and digital transitions, as well as defense.
In this context, METLEN will welcome the Vice President of the European Commission, Stéphane Séjourné, for an official visit to the Aluminium of Greece factory on March 27, 2025. During his visit, the project and its contribution to Europe’s strategic autonomy will be presented.
Including METLEN Energy and Metals, the European Commission approved 47 strategic projects, aimed at strengthening Europe’s domestic strategic raw material capacities. These projects will enhance Europe’s raw material value chain and diversify supply sources.
As the Commission noted in its announcement, the new Strategic Projects mark a significant milestone in the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which aims to ensure that European mining, processing, and recycling of strategic raw materials will meet 10%, 40%, and 25% of the EU’s demand by 2030, respectively.
