TAIEX Expert Mission on the drafting of Albania's Roadmap on Critical and Strategic Raw Materials (CRM/SRM) potential
Elbasan, 16-20.12.2024
During 16-20 December 2024, the EIT Raw Materials Regional Innovation Center, with the recommendation of EIT Raw Materials and endorsement from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, organized an Expert Mission focused on drafting Albania’s Roadmap for Critical and Strategic Raw Materials (CRM/SRM). The roadmap will be the first of its kind to provide a mapping of all the raw materials potential in Albania and make an overall assessment of the country’s raw material reserves such as minerals, metals including critical and strategic raw materials.
Mission Highlights:
🔹 Share best practices and lessons learned in CRM roadmap development
🔹 Discuss the Critical Raw Material Act and its challenges
🔹 Explore EU market trends and supply chain bottlenecks
🔹 Equip participants with tools and knowledge to shape Albania’s role in the EU CRM framework 🇪🇺
The first day of the TAIEX Expert Mission was warmly welcomed by our distinguished speakers s: Ms. Elvira Fetahu, Rector of “Aleksander Xhuvani” University in Elbasan; Mr. Erlind Sulo, Executive Director of the National Agency for Natural Resources; Mr. Adrian Bylyku, General Director of the Albanian Geological Survey (AGS); and Ms. Tina Benda, RIC Country Manager at EIT Raw Materials. The session was chaired by Ms. Ledi Moisiu, Director of the EIT Raw Materials Regional Innovation Center in Albania.
The mission brought together leading experts from EU Member States, including Mr. Aleksi Salo from the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), Mr. Ilkka Keskitalo from the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes), and Mr. Radomir Pachytel from the Polish Geological Survey (PGI), who guided the drafting process of this critical strategic document. Professionals from the National Agency for Natural Resources and the Albanian Geological Survey also participated in the meeting.
Key highlights from Day 1 included an introduction to Albania’s CRM potential, data collection techniques, and challenges, as well as the development of tailored tools for CRM data collection. The mission aims to provide a comprehensive roadmap for the sustainable development of Albania’s critical and strategic raw materials.
The second day of the mission focused on sharing best practices from Finland and Poland in CRM roadmap development. Key lessons from Finland highlighted the importance of geological data for attracting investments and the need for robust, transparent legislation and political stability. Poland’s case emphasized efficient management systems across the mineral value chain, the protection of mineral deposits, and the need for international cooperation in securing access to raw materials.
Key discussion during this day included defining the structure of Albania’s CRM roadmap, setting milestones and timelines, and developing an action plan to integrate policies, market analysis, and sustainability measures.
On the third day, the mission team visited AlbChrome, a part of of Yılmaden Holding and a global leader in ferrochrome production. The delegation explored the company’s mineral processing operations in Elbasan, focusing on technology, environmental standards, and the social inclusion of workers and the community.
Day 4 covered the gaps in Albania’s policy and legal frameworks for CRM development, with discussions on Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) in CRM development. A workshop was held to develop an ESG strategy for Albania’s CRM sector, and stakeholder engagement strategies were also addressed.
On Day 5, the focus shifted to financial considerations and investment opportunities within Albania’s CRM sector. Risk management for CRM exploration and development was also discussed, and a workshop was conducted to develop a financial and risk management framework. The final day concluded with preparations for the implementation of the CRM roadmap, including the finalization of the action plan.
This expert mission is an important step towards developing a strategic framework that will help position Albania as a key player in the European Union’s critical raw materials sector, ensuring sustainability and resilience in the global raw materials supply chain.
