Enhancing EU economic resilience: Exploring new sources and beneficiation of critical raw materials niobium and tantalum from Central Africa

Raw materials are vital to Europe's economy, which is why the EU has identified specific Critical Raw Materials (CRM) that are crucial for its economic stability but pose significant supply risks. These include niobium and tantalum, for which there are currently no active mines in the EU. About 92% of the EU's niobium is imported from Brazil, primarily used in various alloys. The situation is similar for tantalum, with 63% being imported from several African countries, where it is mainly utilized in producing capacitors and superalloys. We have started exploring potential new sources in Central Africa to improve the diversity of supply. We are focusing on two types of mineral deposits: niobiumand tantalum-rich laterite and pegmatite ores. These ores were analyzed using techniques such as ICP-OES, XRPD, and SEM-EDS to determine the chemical and mineralogical compositions, as well as the grain sizes, to facilitate subsequent mineral liberation. Based on our findings, we have developed and implemented a test program using gravity and magnetic beneficiation methods. This program aims to produce an industrial-grade concentrate, thereby strengthening the resilience of the EU's raw material supply chain.