- EU-designated Strategic Project supported by the EIT RawMaterials-led European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA)
- EIT RawMaterials is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union
Berlin, 29. 09. 2026. The El Moto tungsten and gold project in Ciudad Real, central Spain, reached a major milestone last week with the inauguration of its mine, which is currently under construction and targeting first production in 2029. Operated by Abenójar Tungsten S.A. ("ABT"), El Moto will provide a significant new source of tungsten, a critical raw material crucial for advanced manufacturing, automotive, energy, electronics, aerospace and defence. Since 2022, EIT RawMaterials, through ERMA, has supported El Moto with technical expertise, access to financing opportunities and support in developing offtake agreements.
Bernd Schäfer, CEO, Managing Director, EIT RawMaterials said: “El Moto is a powerful example of the role EIT RawMaterials plays in turning Europe’s raw materials ambitions into tangible industrial projects. As El Moto moves towards production, we see the impact of sustained European collaboration and targeted support for strategically important raw materials projects. This is how we strengthen Europe’s domestic supply, reduce strategic dependencies and build the resilient and competitive industrial base Europe needs.”
Gonzalo García San Miguel, CEO of Abenójar Tungsten S.A., said: “The need for tungsten in Europe is clear, and El Moto will help meet a significant share of the annual demand. The project’s importance is underscored by its designation as one of only seven EU Strategic Projects in Spain and will also support the local community by providing over 400 jobs. I am grateful for EIT RawMaterials’ continued backing, which has helped us secure funding, offtake agreements and technical expertise, accelerating El Moto towards our target of first production in 2029.”
ERMA identifies critical raw materials projects with strategic potential for Europe early on and helps them build credibility and networks to attract further investment. It provides financial support, investor matchmaking, and access to a Europe-wide industrial and innovation ecosystem.
El Moto also sets an important example for the future of European mining, combining strategic supply with responsible production, strong ESG standards and value creation for local communities. The underground project is designed to minimise its impact and land use at ground level and is expected to create more than 400 high-skilled jobs, with an initial mine life of 18 years and potential for extension.
Tungsten is designated by the European Union as a critical raw material and is essential to Europe’s industrial competitiveness. With the highest melting point of any metal (3,422°C), as well as exceptional hardness, it is difficult to substitute in applications across advanced manufacturing, automotive, energy, electronics, aerospace and defence.
Europe remains highly dependent on external sources, importing more than 80% of its tungsten supply from China. This vulnerability has become more acute following Chinese export controls, with Western shipments falling by 40% in 2026. With global demand projected to push the market toward $9.62 billion by 2030, the EU has shortlisted tungsten for its first joint strategic stockpile.
Against this backdrop, developing new European sources such as the El Moto mine can help strengthen security of supply and reduce strategic dependencies.
Note to editor
Tungsten: highest melting point
Tungsten: Import and projections
| Location | Abenójar, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain |
| Type of operation | Underground tungsten and gold mine with an on-site processing plant |
| Processing throughput | 1.5 million tonnes per year |
| Life of mine | 18 years on current reserves, extendable with identified resources |
| Steady-state production | Approximately 4,227 tonnes of WO₃ per year in concentrate, plus gold as a by-product |
| Mineral reserves | 22.6 Mt at 0.41% WO₃ and 0.40 g/t Au (proven and probable) |
| Mineral resources | 91.3 Mt at 0.38% WO₃ and 0.41 g/t Au (inclusive of reserves) |
| Direct employment | Approx. 400 direct jobs, plus indirect employment across the region |
| Permitting | Environmental Impact Declaration (2014); Mining Concession including an approved Rehabilitation Plan (2015) |
| Construction | Portal and earthworks commenced in 2026; mine ramp development from July 2026 |
| First production target | First quarter of 2029 |
Media Contact
EIT RawMaterials: Elisabeth Ippel, Communications Manager, elisabeth.ippel@eitrawmaterials.eu
Abenójar Tungsten S.A.: Tavistock, International Media, abt@tavistock.co.uk
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About EIT RawMaterials
EIT RawMaterials is the largest and most active raw materials knowledge and innovation network globally, comprising over 300 partner organisations across the entire raw materials value chain. EIT RawMaterials demonstrates its dedication to advancing and supporting a circular economy in Europe by fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices. Mandated by the European Commission, EIT RawMaterials leads the European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA), which includes 800 members representing an investment potential of more than €25 billion.
Since its founding, EIT RawMaterials has deployed over €700 million in direct strategic funding to support more than 800 projects and start-ups, leveraging approximately €8.3 billion in additional investment into critical raw materials projects and technologies across Europe and beyond.
Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, EIT RawMaterials was established in 2015 to advance Europe’s transition to a sustainable economy. Its mission is to secure a sustainable supply of raw materials for Europe, close material loops, and design innovative product solutions, with the goal to position raw materials as a strategic strength for Europe through innovation, education, and entrepreneurship. Learn more at www.eitrawmaterials.eu.
About Abenójar Tungsten S.A.
Abenójar Tungsten S.A. is a private Spanish company established in 2023 to develop the El Moto tungsten and gold project in Ciudad Real, Spain. It is majority owned by Promotora de Minas de Carbón, a company controlled by the García San Miguel family, which has multi-generational experience developing and operating mines in Spain: the family mine contracting business was founded in 1967, and the group has more than 40 years in contracting across 18 mining operations, direct experience in 25 operations in Spain and three in South America, and equity interests in nine mines. Its record as an owner and operator includes the full rehabilitation of mines at the end of their working lives, among them the San Antonio mine in Espiel, whose land is today an olive grove.
Construction of the underground operation at El Moto began in 2026, with first production targeted for the first quarter of 2029. El Moto holds EU Strategic Project designation under the Critical Raw Materials Act and is being developed with a focus on long-term benefits for all stakeholders.
