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Japan and several leading companies express interest in Extremadura’s tungsten resources (El Periódico de Extremadura)

13 October 2025 – Source: elperiodicoextremadura.com

The Government of Japan and several major business groups from the country have expressed interest in the La Parrilla tungsten mine, located between Almoharín and Santa Amalia (Cáceres). Representatives of the company that owns the site, Iberian Resources Spain —part of the BlackRock investment fund—, travelled to Tokyo in September to present the project during a visit organised by the Vice-President of the European Commission, Stéphane Séjourné.

During their stay, they met with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Minister of Economy Yoji Muto, and executives from sectors such as automotive, technology and renewable energy. Japan aims to reduce its reliance on China, which accounts for around 85% of the world’s tungsten production.

The Extremaduran mine, the largest open-pit tungsten and wolfram deposit in Europe, is listed among the European Union’s strategic raw material projects due to its importance in industries such as electronics, defence and clean energy.

The Japanese government is considering potential investment or minority participation in the project, with discussions continuing after the visit. US-based companies have also shown interest.

Mining operations at La Parrilla began in 1954, were restarted in 2019 and suspended again in 2023. The site is currently undergoing environmental permitting by the Regional Government of Extremadura —a key step towards resuming production and consolidating the region as a strategic supplier of critical minerals.

📌 Read the official publications:

Article on elperiodicoextremadura.com

 

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Japan Eyes Tungsten from Extremadura: Iberian Resources Spain Meets Prime Minister of Japan in Tokyo

Almoharín, September 24, 2025 – Japan has taken another step in its strategy to secure access to critical minerals, showing particular interest in the tungsten deposit in Extremadura, the largest outside of China and owned by Iberian Resources Spain. On Tuesday in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ken Saitō welcomed representatives of the Spanish company. The meeting was organized with the support of the European Commission and included the participation of Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Industrial Strategy of the EU institution.

📌 Refer to the official statements on the Japanese Government website and in leading international outlets:

Official statement from the Government of Japan

Press statement on Japan–EU cooperation

This initiative reflects growing concern over global dependency on China, which currently accounts for nearly 85% of tungsten production. Alongside the high-level talks, discussions were also held with Japanese companies to evaluate potential partnerships and explore cooperation models aimed at securing mid-term supply of this critical resource.

The Extremadura mining project, however, remains under administrative review by the regional government, a process that has been ongoing for almost three years. Once approved and operational, the mine is expected to generate more than 500 jobs, strengthen the local economy, and reinforce Spain’s role in the European supply chain for strategic raw materials.

The Tokyo meeting underscores the mounting international efforts to reduce reliance on China and highlights the pivotal role that Extremadura could play in reshaping the global landscape of critical minerals.

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