Sibanye-Stillwater’s ambitions in Europe’s critical minerals sector advanced this week as the European Commission designated two of its projects—Keliber in Finland and GalliCam in France—as “Strategic Projects” under the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This designation underscores the projects’ importance in meeting the EU’s goals for domestic extraction, processing, and recycling of strategic raw materials by 2030.
The CRMA sets ambitious targets for the EU to secure 10% of its demand through extraction, 40% through processing, and 25% through recycling by 2030. Sibanye-Stillwater’s CEO Neal Froneman welcomed the recognition, stating that it validates the company’s investments in regional ecosystem development and its commitment to delivering value to stakeholders. Sibanye-Stillwater’s projects were officially awarded strategic designation by the European Commission.
The Keliber lithium project, in which Sibanye-Stillwater holds a 78.9% stake, is expected to produce Europe’s first battery-grade lithium hydroxide from locally mined ore starting in 2026. The facility is projected to reach full capacity with annual production of approximately 15,000 tons of lithium hydroxide for at least 18 years. Sibanye-Stillwater plans to invest $233 million during the 2025 financial year to complete this project.
Meanwhile, the GalliCam project in France aims to repurpose Sibanye-Stillwater’s Sandouville nickel refinery into a facility producing precursor cathode active material (pCAM), a key component for electric vehicle batteries. Currently in its pre-feasibility stage, GalliCam has already secured a $155 million (€144 million) grant from the EU and is eligible for additional tax credits. Sibanye-Stillwater has allocated $11 million for capital expenditure on this project in 2025.
These projects are part of a broader effort by Western nations to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals such as lithium and nickel. The EU has selected 47 strategic projects from 170 applications to bolster its supply chain for these essential materials. This initiative reflects a coordinated move to secure critical mineral access within Europe.
In addition to its European ventures, Sibanye-Stillwater continues operations in other regions but recently declined an opportunity to invest in a lithium-boron project in Nevada due to environmental concerns and investment hurdles. This decision reflects the company’s focus on strategic alignment and sustainable development.
