Euro Manganese has confirmed that the Czech government has classified the manganese deposit at its Chvaletice Manganese Project as a strategic deposit under amendments to the Czech Mining Act.
This designation is expected to accelerate the project’s permitting process and strengthen its role in securing critical raw materials for the country.
The strategic deposit status grants the Chvaletice Project priority in obtaining permits and official approvals, aiming to streamline project development. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles and minimising administrative delays, the classification enhances predictability in regulatory procedures.
Additionally, the status may allow access to specialised legislative measures similar to those applied to infrastructure projects, potentially limiting the scope for objections from external organisations.
Euro Manganese interim CEO Martina Blahova said: “Being classified as a Strategic Deposit by the Czech government is a significant milestone for Euro Manganese, and we appreciate the support and recognition of the importance of the Chvaletice Manganese Project.
“This designation represents a significant catalyst for our development timeline and reflects the critical role our project plays in establishing local, sustainable raw material supply chains. This validates our team’s hard work and commitment and strengthens our position as we continue to advance Project development.”
The Chvaletice project, located approximately 90km east of Prague, is focused on reprocessing manganese-rich waste from a decommissioned mine that operated between 1951 and 1975.
Unlike conventional mining operations, the project aims to extract manganese from historical mine tailings, mitigating environmental impacts while addressing contamination at the site. Over its 25-year operational period, the initiative is expected to adhere to stringent Czech environmental regulations through site remediation and reclamation efforts.
Euro Manganese has already secured two key approvals for the project. These include the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), granted by the Czech Ministry of Environment in March 2024, and the Determination of Mining Lease permit in January 2025.
The Chvaletice resource is said to be the only significant classified manganese deposit within the European Union (EU). With high-purity manganese essential for battery production, the project is positioned to contribute to the EU’s efforts in reducing reliance on imported raw materials.
Estimates indicate that it could supply up to 20% of Europe’s projected manganese demand by 2030.
The commercial development of the project is anticipated to generate approximately 400 full-time jobs, in addition to economic benefits for Czech businesses and state revenues. Since 2015, Euro Manganese has engaged with local authorities and communities to refine project plans, integrating feedback into its development strategy.
In July 2022, Euro Manganese released a Feasibility Study for the Chvaletice project, valuing its after-tax net present value (NPV) at $1.34bn with an estimated after-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of around 22%, based on an 8% discount rate.
