EIES Report

Resources for Europe: Financing critical mineral supply chains

Beijing’s manipulation of and recent export restrictions on critical raw materials – many of which upon which Europe holds more than a 90% import reliance – put Europe’s industrial base and economy at risk. As China and the US pursue capital-backed political critical minerals agendas, the absence of a comprehensive European financial architecture exposes the continent’s limitations in catalysing necessary investment in critical mineral value chains.

A coordinated financing front to tackle the critical raw materials financing gap – the European Minerals Investment Network (E-MIN) – would serve as a permanent platform to unite public and private investors, industrial offtakers, project developers across Europe and allied countries. 

The E-MIN would align with other European mandates, bridging the gap between policy goals and individual stakeholder risk appetite to enable effective joint financing and risk-sharing. 

Resources for Europe explores mechanisms that strengthen investment in critical mineral value chains, including cross-sector cooperation, partnerships that blend public and private capital through hybrid financing and offtake structures, including price support mechanisms, and working towards common standards.