Can Poland Become a European Leader in Strategic Raw Materials?

In a world increasingly shaped by access to critical resources, the question of who controls supply chains is no longer theoretical, it is strategic.

Recent insights shared by Paweł Jarski in an interview with WNP.pl highlight a compelling perspective: Poland is not just participating in this race, it has a real chance to lead in Europe.

Poland’s Strong Position in Europe

While Europe as a whole faces growing pressure in the global competition for critical raw materials, Poland stands out within the region.

According to Paweł Jarski, this advantage is rooted in both history and transformation. Poland’s long-standing mining heritage has created a strong industrial foundation, while modern sectors such as urban mining are rapidly gaining momentum.

Importantly, as Paweł Jarski emphasizes, it is crucial to distinguish between Europe’s global position and Poland’s role within Europe.

Europe is currently losing the global race for critical raw materials. However, Poland itself holds a strong position within Europe — and can make it even stronger if the right conditions are maintained.

This dual perspective places Poland in a unique position: not as a follower, but as a potential regional leader.

From Potential to Action: The Polvolt Project

Ambition alone is not enough, execution is what defines leadership.

This is where the Polvolt project becomes central to the conversation.

Located in Zawiercie, Polvolt is designed to become one of the most advanced facilities in Europe for recovering and refining strategic metals from electronic waste and end-of-life batteries.

With a planned investment of approximately $800 million over the next five to six years, it represents the largest industrial project in the history of Elemental Group.

But its importance goes far beyond scale.

Polvolt is a direct response to one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: building resilient, local supply chains for critical materials essential to the energy transition and modern technologies.

A Strategic Focus on Execution

As highlighted in the interview, the Group’s current priority is clear: deliver Polvolt.

Efforts are now concentrated on finalizing financing and securing the right technology partners, a milestone expected to be reached by the end of the year.

Only after this phase will Elemental consider returning to acquisitions, despite attractive opportunities emerging in the global market following challenging years for the precious metals and platinum group metals sectors.

This disciplined approach reflects a long-term vision: building a strong foundation first, then scaling globally.

Global Ambitions, Polish Foundations

While Poland remains a key focus, Elemental continues to look outward.

The United States, currently the Group’s largest market, remains a priority for expansion, with plans to acquire additional companies. At the same time, Africa and Asia are emerging as important directions for future growth.

Yet, as the Polvolt project demonstrates, global ambition does not mean shifting focus away from Poland.

On the contrary, it reinforces the belief that strategic investments made locally can have global impact.

A Defining Moment for Poland

The transformation of the raw materials sector is accelerating.

For Poland, this moment represents a rare convergence of industrial capability, market opportunity, and strategic necessity.

As Paweł Jarski’s perspective makes clear, the question is no longer whether Poland can play a significant role — but whether it will fully seize the opportunity.

Projects like Polvolt suggest that the answer is already taking shape.