The European Commission is planning to revise the EU’s flagship water protection law to accelerate the development of critical minerals mines, despite many being located in drying and water-stressed regions, according to an exclusive analysis.
Water-Intensive Mining in Drying Regions
Mining requires large volumes of water for ore processing, dust suppression, waste management and mine dewatering. Although modern projects recycle water, they still demand significant amounts, and in water-stressed regions, these needs can strain already limited rivers, aquifers and water supplies.
Analysis by Watershed Investigations, shared with the Guardian, reveals that over half of the 33 planned new or expanded mines designated as “strategic projects” under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act are in areas that have been drying over the past two decades, based on Nasa satellite data. Nearly half are in zones that experienced drought in the past three months, and a quarter are in water-stressed regions.
Spanish and Portuguese Mines Under Scrutiny
Six of the strategic mines are planned for highly water-stressed areas in Spain, with others in Portugal and Greece. All three countries rank among the top 10 EU nations with the worst water scarcity, according to the European Environment Agency. In 2024, Spain’s Catalonia region declared a state of emergency over its worst drought, while Portugal saw 96% of its territory hit by “extreme” or “severe” drought in 2022.
Environmental group Ecologistas en Acción is challenging the Commission’s decision to grant strategic status to all six Spanish mines, arguing it failed to properly assess risks to water resources, biodiversity and protected areas.
Rising Demand for Critical Minerals
Global demand for critical minerals has tripled since 2010, driven by the race to build AI infrastructure, electric vehicles, renewable energy and defence systems. Demand is expected to more than double by 2030, with graphite, lithium and cobalt needs projected to rise nearly 500% by 2050 from 2020 levels.
To reduce import dependence, the EU has designated 47 mining, processing and recycling projects as “strategic”, including 33 mines. This designation fast-tracks permitting and aims to accelerate development, while projects outside the bloc gain political backing and potential EU funding.
Revision of the Water Framework Directive
Brussels is preparing to revise the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the EU’s key law protecting rivers, groundwater and wetlands, to remove permitting bottlenecks for strategic minerals. The mining industry, represented by Euromines, has pushed for longer deadlines to meet water quality targets, amendments to the “no deterioration” rule, and greater legal certainty for industrial projects.
Environmental groups fear weakened protections, but Euromines insists it is “not a licence to pollute”. A spokesperson said: “Our overarching priority remains constructive engagement with policymakers to ensure strong environmental safeguards alongside legal clarity and predictability for permitting authorities.”
Criticism from Experts and Environmentalists
The European Commission defends its choice of mines, stating that strategic projects are assessed by independent experts and must comply with EU environmental law. A spokesperson said the WFD review would consider ways to improve access to critical raw materials while protecting the environment and human health, with environmental and water impact assessments carried out by national authorities.
However, Sara Johansson, water policy manager at the European Environmental Bureau, called the plans reckless, noting that the mining industry “has not presented a shred of evidence” that the WFD creates bottlenecks. “Dismantling those protections undermines Europe’s water resilience and leaves taxpayers, farmers and communities to pay – both with their health and their wallets,” she said.
Prof Kaveh Madani, director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, warned: “Fast-tracking mining in water-stressed regions by weakening safeguards is a form of Russian roulette. It may look like an economic booster in the short term, but one serious failure in the wrong location can neutralise many of the promised gains – especially when the damage to people, rivers, aquifers and ecosystems is long-lasting or irreversible.”
Several companies contacted disputed suggestions their projects would place undue pressure on water resources, pointing to environmental assessments, closed-loop water recycling systems, monitoring programmes and regulatory oversight.
