Nickel and cobalt are at the heart of Europe’s green transition, powering the batteries that drive electric mobility and renewable energy storage. As demand for these critical metals is set to multiply by 2050, the European Union is pushing to secure sustainable supply chains through its Critical Raw Materials Act.
Within the EU, Greece is uniquely positioned. It holds significant lateritic nickel reserves—the only such deposits in Europe. For decades, these ores were processed through energy-intensive pyrometallurgical methods, but declining ore grades and rising sustainability concerns now point toward hydrometallurgical technologies. These modern methods can not only extract nickel more efficiently but also recover cobalt and potentially manganese, aligning perfectly with Europe’s battery material needs.
If implemented at scale, Greek laterite processing could deliver about 17,000 tons of nickel and 1,500 tons of cobalt each year—enough to cover around 10% of Europe’s demand for batteries. This potential illustrates how regional resources, combined with innovation, can strengthen Europe’s resilience and reduce dependence on imports from Asia.
For the CICERO Horizon Europe project, which focuses on creating circular and sustainable supply chains for critical raw materials, Greek laterites represent both a challenge and an opportunity. By advancing hydrometallurgical approaches and integrating them into Europe’s broader strategy, CICERO can help turn these local deposits into a strategic asset for the continent’s clean energy future.
Read more on this topic, in the full article, prepared by Dr Stylianos Tampouris from the CICERO partner organization, LARCO.
