Poland approved a PLN185.7mn (€42.9mn) programme on September 2 to search for domestic deposits of critical raw materials, the climate and environment ministry said.

The plan aims to reduce dependence on suppliers outside the EU and limit supply disruptions that could hamper the energy transition, digital technologies and defence production, the ministry said.

The targeted materials support production of batteries, electronics, electric vehicles, renewable energy equipment, medical devices and modern weapons, the ministry also said.

The programme fulfils an obligation under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, which requires member states to develop and implement national exploration programmes.

The EU also requires reviews of national exploration programmes at least every five years, with updates when necessary.

Copper, platinum-group metals, graphite, baryte, fluorspar, helium and feldspar resources will receive the highest priority, according to the programme. 

The programme assigns medium priority to resources including tungsten, titanium, vanadium, arsenic, bismuth, silicon metal, phosphates, strontium and coking coal.

Rare earths, lithium, gallium, germanium, hafnium, boron, antimony and scandium rank lowest because the prospects of identifying deposits are limited, the ministry said.

The Polish Geological Institute will conduct the work over the period 2026–2033, with financing from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. Research will include geological mapping, geophysical surveys, geochemical analysis and drilling.

The programme will build on existing geological data and expert assessments and will not provide legal basis for actual exploration.

Lower Silesia and neighbouring parts of western Poland offer the strongest prospects for copper and associated metals, research by the Polish Geological Institute has shown.

Geological resources do not aways guarantee profitable extraction, however, For example, titanium and vanadium deposits near Suwałki, north-eastern Poland, lie too deep underground and remain classified as subeconomic.

A separate issue remains potential local opposition to mining in areas valued for natural beauty and clen environment.