Romania has approved the resumption of mining activity in the Baia de Fier graphite district, returning deposits including Catalinu and Ungurelașu to an active development framework. The decision removes the areas from the permanent mine-closure regime, creating a regulatory basis for state-controlled SALROM to advance plans for an integrated domestic graphite industry.
SALROM plans extraction and processing investment
The proposed development pipeline includes approximately €198 million for graphite extraction and primary processing, €250 million for advanced battery-grade processing and €180 million for recycling and treatment of historic mining tailings.
Combined, the projects represent a potential investment programme of nearly €630 million. Graphite is a key material for lithium-ion battery anodes, while Europe remains dependent on imported natural graphite and processed products. SALROM’s plans seek to connect Romanian mining and processing capacity with European battery and energy-storage supply chains.
Development still requires financing and processing qualification
The government decision removes an important regulatory obstacle, but it does not mean the €630 million programme is fully financed or ready for construction. The mining, downstream processing and tailings-recovery projects have separate technical, financing and permitting requirements.
SALROM will need to establish commercially viable graphite quality and processing recoveries and demonstrate that its products can meet battery-industry specifications. Producing graphite ore has considerably lower value than delivering purified, coated or otherwise upgraded anode-grade material suitable for European cell manufacturers.
Baia de Fier enters the next development phase with an existing mining base, EU membership, access to European funding mechanisms and proximity to Central European battery manufacturing. The government decision therefore clears a regulatory barrier for the graphite district, while further progress will depend on financing, processing technology and permitting.
