Spain continues to expand its position as one of Europe’s most active mining jurisdictions, with copper, polymetallic and critical mineral projects advancing across several regions. Operating mines, development assets and brownfield restart opportunities are progressing simultaneously, led by Atalaya Mining, Emerita Resources and Energy Transition Minerals.
The country’s project pipeline spans producing copper operations, large polymetallic resource developments and the planned restart of a tin-tantalum-niobium mine, with projects distributed across Andalusia and Galicia.
Atalaya expands development across the Riotinto District
Atalaya Mining reported Q1 2026 copper production of 9,939 tonnes from its Proyecto Riotinto operation after unusually heavy rainfall restricted access to sections of the Cerro Colorado pit. Despite the weather-related disruption, the company processed 4.1 million tonnes of ore during the quarter and achieved a copper recovery rate of 81.54%. Alongside current production, Atalaya Mining continued advancing growth opportunities across the Riotinto District, including the San Dionisio, San Antonio and Masa Valverde deposits, together with plans for a polymetallic processing circuit.
Chief Executive Officer Alberto Lavandeira also highlighted progress at the Touro copper project in Galicia, where a court ruling overturned the negative environmental decision issued in January 2020. The ruling enables the company to continue working with the regional government under the existing strategic project framework.
Emerita progresses Iberian Belt West prefeasibility study
Emerita Resources continues development of its Iberian Belt West (IBW) project in Huelva, located within the Iberian Pyrite Belt, one of Europe’s best-known volcanogenic massive sulphide districts. The project comprises the La Infanta, Romanera and El Cura deposits and contains a combined mineral resource of 25.76 million tonnes, according to the company.
Publication of the IBW prefeasibility study (PFS) has been rescheduled from approximately June 2026 to the third quarter of 2026 following additional metallurgical testing and process optimization work. The company stated that most of the prefeasibility engineering has already been completed, including underground mine design, surface infrastructure layout, flotation process plant design and a Railveyor underground-to-surface discharge loop.
Penouta acquisition targets restart of tin-tantalum-niobium production
Energy Transition Minerals is progressing the acquisition of the Penouta tin-tantalum-niobium project in Galicia, which the company describes as Europe’s only developed tin-tantalum-niobium mine. Mining operations at Penouta last took place in October 2024. Existing site infrastructure includes an open pit, crushing, grinding and gravity processing plant, engineered tailings storage facilities and associated mining infrastructure.
Commercial preparations are also advancing. Mining Weekly reported that Traxys has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Energy Transition Minerals covering the potential offtake of up to 100% of tin, tantalum and niobium concentrates produced at Penouta. The parties are working toward finalizing binding documentation for a six-year offtake agreement beginning with the mine’s first production following restart.
