Romania approves reopening of graphite mines for battery production

The Romanian government has approved the reopening of two graphite mining sites, Cătălinu and Ungurelașu, located in the Baia de Fier area of Gorj County. These sites, which were previously slated for permanent closure, have been removed from the list of closed mines to facilitate the 'Battery-Grade Graphite Extraction Project'.

The project is led by the state-controlled company Societatea Națională a Sării (SALROM). It is recognized as one of three Romanian projects on the European Commission's list of strategic projects aimed at ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials. The initiative involves developing infrastructure and processing capacities to produce high-purity graphite, which is essential for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

While the mines were closed in the mid-2000s due to lack of profitability, the global demand for graphite has surged. The project is estimated to have significant economic impacts, including regional development and job creation. The investment aims to establish an industrial chain to transform raw materials into high-purity graphite, reducing reliance on markets currently dominated by China.