Euro Manganese’s Chvaletice Project in Czech Republic has been classified as a Strategic Project under the European Union’s (EU) Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), enabling significant opportunities for funding and guidance.
This status allows access to various public and private financial resources, including the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The designation also permits regional and national authorities to leverage funding from the European Development Fund and Cohesion Fund. Integral to this status is the acceleration of permitting processes, adhering to CRMA deadlines, thereby mitigating scheduling risks in obtaining necessary approvals.
The CRMA, effective since May 2024, outlines over 30 essential raw materials. It categorises high-purity manganese, particularly used in battery production, as a strategic material, while recognising manganese as critical.
Strategic Projects are identified to strengthen the EU’s supply chain security of these materials, ensure internal market functionality, and reduce reliance on third-country sources.
Euro Manganese interim CEO Martina Blahova said: “Achieving Strategic Project status with the EU’s CRMA enhances Euro Manganese’s role in Europe’s raw materials value chain, facilitating access to government-backed funding, collaboration with EU institutions, and expediting permitting.
“Euro Manganese aims to play a crucial role in establishing a sustainable and climate-friendly battery value chain in Europe. Today’s announcement reaffirms our commitment to becoming the sole integrated European producer of high-purity manganese, an essential component in the transition to a greener economy.”
Progress for Euro Manganese’s Chvaletice Project has included key regulatory approvals. March 2024 saw the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment approved by the Czech Ministry of Environment.
In January 2025, a Determination of Mining Lease permit was secured, marking a pivotal step towards comprehensive project permitting.
Furthermore, March 2025 marked the Czech government’s declaration of the Chvaletice Manganese Deposit as strategic. This classification prioritises the project in obtaining required permits and official endorsements, aiming to facilitate development by reducing bureaucratic impediments.
Located approximately 90km east of Prague, the Chvaletice Project is focused on reprocessing manganese-rich waste from a decommissioned mine that was operational between 1951 and 1975. The project diverges from conventional mining by extracting manganese from historical mine tailings, addressing environmental remediation while managing contamination at the site.
