Euromines has released a study on the strategic role of magnesite and magnesia in Europe’s industrial future. These essential yet often overlooked raw materials are critical to European industry and key to securing the EU’s strategic autonomy.
Why Are Magnesite and Magnesia Essential?
Magnesite and magnesia (derived from magnesite and magnesium chloride) are indispensable to key industries and crucial for the EU’s push toward strategic autonomy. These materials are fundamental to processing and recycling over 50% of Europe’s strategic raw materials and more than 30% of its critical raw materials.
Magnesite and magnesia support over 100 applications across diverse sectors, including:
- Agriculture
- Metallurgy
- Steel production
- Battery manufacturing
- Heating elements
- Transformers
- CO2 absorption and catalysts
Their unparalleled versatility makes them vital to Europe’s economic resilience and industrial sustainability.
Magnesite’s Key Role in Defence and Aerospace
European magnesite possesses unique properties that make it indispensable for green steel production. In fact, 75% of global steel production relies on European magnesite to enable Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology, a crucial method for producing sustainable steel. Moreover, magnesite is the only viable source for producing magnesium—a critical material for aerospace and defence—while emitting significantly less CO2 than alternative sources worldwide.
Rising Demand, Declining Supply: A Growing Risk
Despite increasing demand across industries, Europe’s magnesite and magnesia production is in decline. With rising import dependence and concentrated supply chains, the EU faces heightened geopolitical and market vulnerabilities. A University of Leoben study underscores this urgency, revealing that 50% of strategic raw materials rely on magnesia for their production.
The Urgent Need for Strategic Recognition
Without magnesite mining, there is no magnesia production. Without magnesia, Europe’s industrial ecosystem faces disruption. To secure its future, the EU must recognise magnesite and magnesia as strategic and critical raw materials. Prioritising these essential resources will safeguard Europe’s industrial resilience, sustainability, and autonomy.
Read the study below.
