Priority question for written answer P-004305/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Pascal Arimont (PPE)

The mining company Tungsten West is seeking to reopen the UK's Hemerdon tungsten mine, an initiative which in June was designated a strategic project under the European Critical Raw Materials Act[1]. The project aims to produce 20% of the world's supply of primary tungsten outside China.

In August, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) addressed a letter of interest to the company stating that EXIM was considering granting up to USD 95 million for the project as part of a supply chain resilience initiative[2].

• 1.Does the Commission consider that this funding offer jeopardises the Hemerdon project's status as a future source of supply for the EU, and what consequences would it have as to ensuring the security of the relevant supply chains for the EU?
• 2.How does the Commission intend to position itself in the global competition for similar projects already classed as 'strategic'?

Submitted: 3.11.2025

• [1] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/document/download/808502c2-21c7-4ca8-855f-ff0b528f91c4_en?filename=C_2025_3491_1_EN_ACT_part1_v4.pdf
• [2] https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/TUN/news/17203552