Brussels – Coinciding with the Raw Materials Week 2024, RHI Magnesita, the global leader in refractory products and solutions, together with Euromines (www.euromines.org), the recognized representative of the European metals and minerals mining industry , today hosted the “Magnesia Cocktail” in Brussels – a high-level event emphasizing the critical role of magnesite and magnesia as raw material in Europe’s green transition and in building industrial competitiveness. The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to underline the need for immediate action to include magnesite and magnesia on the EU’s list of Critical Raw Materials (CRM) to ensure raw material supply security for Europe.
During the event, RHI Magnesita and representatives from Europe’s magnesite and magnesia producing industries presented a joint pledge to Kerstin Jorna, Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, urging the European Commission to recognize the strategic importance of magnesite by including it in the CRM list. An independent study by the University of Leoben, Austria, was presented during the event findings of which highlighted how magnesite is indispensable to the EU’s efforts to achieve raw material security and accelerate its Clean Industrial Deal.
Stefan Borgas, CEO of RHI Magnesita, stated, “Magnesia, derived from Magnesite, is the backbone of refractories required for critical raw material processing and decarbonization efforts. This is essential particularly in steelmaking, cement and glass production. It is a catalyst for over 50% of strategic raw materials for refractories and 30% of critical raw materials. Recognizing its importance is essential to strengthening Europe’s resilience and leadership in the green transition.”
Constantin Beelitz, Chair of the Magnesite Assembly at Euromines, added: “Europe’s magnesite industry is central to the continent’s industrial competitiveness. Beyond its pivotal role in decarbonizing global steel production, magnesite contributes to over 100 industrial applications that sustain Europe’s economy, from CO2 absorption to energy efficiency technologies. Inclusion in the Critical Raw Materials Act is not just a necessity; it is a strategic imperative.”
Magnesia, which is processed from raw Magnesite, are vital to producing key technologies for Europe’s green and digital future, such as electric vehicles, next-generation batteries, green steel and energy storage solutions. However, Europe’s limited magnesia production make the EU heavily reliant on external suppliers, with high dependency on imports from China, which accounts for nearly 65% of global production*. This highlights the EU’s vulnerability and underscores the urgent need to diversify and strengthen supply chains.
Despite this, magnesite and magnesia remain excluded from the EU’s Critical Raw Materials list, a gap industry leaders and policymakers at the event stressed, must be addressed. Recognizing the entire supply chain’s significance for Critical Raw Materials is essential to ensuring Europe’s industrial base remains competitive while supporting key sectors like green technology, defense, and energy efficiency.
The cocktail featured insightful discussions, including a keynote by Constantin Beelitz on Europe’s reliance on magnesite and a panel moderated by Kira Taylor, where industry leaders, including James Watson, Director-General of Eurometaux, Bert Jan Bruning, CEO Nedmag, and Stefan Borgas, CEO RHI Magnesita explored gaps in the EU’s raw materials strategy.
*according to World Mining Data 2024
RHI Magnesita is the leading global supplier of high-grade refractory products, systems and solutions which are critical for high-temperature processes exceeding 1,200°C in a wide range of industries, including steel, cement, non-ferrous metals and glass. With a vertically integrated value chain, from raw materials to refractory products and full performance-based solutions, RHI Magnesita serves customers around the world, with over 20,000 employees in 67 main production sites (including raw material sites), 12 recycling facilities and more than 70 sales offices. RHI Magnesita intends to leverage its leadership in terms of revenue, scale, product portfolio and diversified geographic presence to target strategically those countries and regions benefitting from more dynamic economic growth prospects.
The Group is listed within the Equity Shares (Commercial Companies) category (“ESCC”) of the Official List of the London Stock Exchange (symbol: RHIM) and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index, with a secondary listing on the Vienna Stock Exchange (Wiener Börse).