The European Union launched the critical minerals section of its Energy and Raw Materials Platform on April 13, 2026, to empower regional buyers and reduce dependence on China, which controls up to 90% of output in this sector.

This initiative forms part of the RESourceEU strategy to strengthen supply chains for rare earths and other strategic minerals used in the energy transition and defence applications.

The procurement platform was developed under a nine-million-euro contract awarded to PriceWaterhouseCoopers and a Slovak software firm, creating separate mechanisms for strategic raw materials, hydrogen, and energy products like natural gas and biomethane.

Last year’s contract kickstarted the platform’s development, with the goal of diversifying suppliers and accelerating domestic supply chains to reduce strategic risk.

In its first phase, the platform opened for buyer submissions, connecting buyers with suppliers and leaving final trades to be negotiated between parties.

The initial connections process began on April 13, targeting rare earths, battery materials, and defence-related raw materials, with results expected in September.

The first round of buyer–supplier connections is underway, with results planned for September as the market-ready materials come online.

Hydrogen submissions started in November 2025, and the results were announced on April 1, 2026, including 273 match-ups.

The platform’s objectives include accelerating EU domestic supply chains and diversifying suppliers to mitigate strategic risk in energy transition and defence sectors.

The effort aligns with the Critical Raw Materials Act of 2023 and targets by 2030: reduce reliance on a single country for more than 65% of demand, with 10% domestic mining, 25% recycling, and 40% domestic processing of critical minerals by decade’s end.