European Lithium Ltd has welcomed the recent announcement from the Carinthian state government, which has confirmed that Critical Metals Corp (CRML) subsidiary ECM Lithium AT GmbH (ECM) is not required to undergo an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Wolfsberg lithium project in Austria’s Kolrape mountain range.
This decree, stating that underground mining operations do not require an EIA when the surface area for above-ground facilities is under 10 hectares, brings the project one step closer to becoming a reality. It is seen as a significant advancement toward establishing a European battery supply chain for electromobility.
Tony Sage, Chairman of European Lithium, expressed his enthusiasm, calling the decree an “extraordinary achievement” for Critical Metals Corp and the Wolfsberg project. He emphasized that this marks the first new mining project within the EU to qualify for fast-track approval processes for critical mineral mining, furthering sustainable lithium production in Austria within a European-integrated supply chain.
European Lithium holds a 74.3% stake in Critical Metals, owning 66,416,641 ordinary shares. As of November 29, the company’s investment in Critical Metals is valued at approximately US$452.3 million (A$696.5 million), subject to fluctuations in the share price of Critical Metals.
With this significant interest, European Lithium aligns itself with Critical Metals’ vision to become a leading supplier for the lithium-ion battery supply chain in Europe.
