The Wolfsberg lithium project in Austria has taken a big step forward as ECM Lithium (ECM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nasdaq-listed Critical Metals, received confirmation from the Carinthian state government that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is not required.

This exemption from the EIA process will fast-track the Wolfsberg project’s approval, potentially positioning it as a key player in the European supply chain for critical minerals.

The regulatory decision stems from new provisions for underground mining projects, where if the surface area is expected to cover less than 10 ha, an EIA is not necessary under Austrian law.

“This is an extraordinary achievement for Critical Metals Corp and our Wolfsberg project, as we chart a path forward for the production of critical minerals in Europe. This decree makes the Wolfsberg project the first new mining project within the EU that is able to pave the way into the fast-track approval process for new mining projects in the critical minerals sector. This is a significant milestone towards sustainable production of lithium from Austrian mining extraction in an integrated European supply chain located in the heart of Europe,” said European Lithium chairperson Tony Sage.

Australia-based European Lithium holds a 74.30% stake in Critical Metals, amounting to 66.42-million shares. Based on Critical Metals' closing share price of $6.81 a share on November 29, the company’s investment is valued at $452.3-million.

Wolfsberg is expected to be the first licensed lithium mine in Europe.

The definitive feasibility study (DFS) proposes an average mine production rate of 780 000 t/y, peaking at 840 000 t/y over the life-of-mine (LoM), which is based on an ore reserve of 11.48-million tonnes, mined over 14.6 years.

The DFS envisages two integrated operations, a mining and processing operation, to produce a lithium concentrate (spodumene), and a hydrometallurgical plant to convert the spodumene into battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM).

The hydrometallurgical plant is expected to produce 8 800 t/y of LHM, with a total production of about 129 000 t of LHM over the LoM.

Total spodumene concentrate production is estimated at 90 000 t, coarse feldspar at 1.95-million tonnes, fine feldspar at 587 000 t, total coarse quartz at one-million tonnes and total fine quartz at 164 000 t.