TR

DDTP

Recovering Resources.
Powering the future.

We combine engineering, EPC capabilities, proprietary technologies, and in-house development to offer comprehensive solutions, from concept to industrial implementation.

  • DDTP

Recovering Resources.
Powering the future.

Engineering services, technology licensing, technical support, and proprietary technologies.

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TECHNOLOGIES

01

Recovery of Base and Precious Metals

Focused on the design and development of customized processes for recovering metals from a wide range of primary sources.

02

Critical Raw Materials and the Circular Economy

Dedicated to ensuring sustainable and secure access to critical raw materials that are essential for the global energy, digital, and industrial transitions.

03

Decarbonization

Focused on developing decarbonization technologies and value-added processes for high-value products.

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Técnicas Reunidas at IFAT Munich 2026: Driving innovation in the circular economy and critical raw materials

IFAT Munich 2026, recognized as the world’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies, once again brought together key international players in water management, recycling, circularity, and sustainable resource recovery. Held in Munich, the event brought together more than 3,000 exhibitors and industry professionals from over 60 countries, serving as a global platform for innovation, collaboration, and technological development in the environmental sector.

During the exhibition, Técnicas Reunidas, through its In-House Technology Development Division, had the opportunity to showcase its capabilities in the development and industrial implementation of innovative technologies focused on the recovery of metals and critical raw materials from secondary resources.

The company presented part of its portfolio dedicated to the circular economy, urban mining, and sustainable resource recovery, highlighting hydrometallurgical solutions designed to support the energy transition and improve the sustainability of industrial value chains.

IFAT Munich provided an excellent opportunity to interact with companies, institutions, and technology providers from all sectors of the environment and recycling industries. Throughout the event, the Técnicas Reunidas team exchanged ideas and discussed current challenges and opportunities related to circularity, strategic raw materials, and advanced recycling solutions.

The participation also reinforced the company’s commitment to developing technologies that contribute to resource efficiency, waste recovery, and the transition toward a more sustainable and circular industrial model.

Técnicas Reunidas would like to thank everyone who visited the booth and shared valuable conversations during the event.

See you again at IFAT 2028.

#IFAT2026 #CircularEconomy #CriticalRawMaterials #UrbanMining #EnergyTransition #Innovation #Sustainability

Técnicas Reunidas leads PERMANET to boost the circular economy in rare earths

The European PERMANET project is making progress in developing innovative solutions to improve the recovery of critical raw materials from electronic waste and industrial materials, helping to reduce Europe’s dependence on imports and strengthen its strategic autonomy.

In a recent interview, Peter Fleming Rubio, PERMANET Project Coordinator representing Técnicas Reunidas, highlighted the company’s key role as project coordinator, leading its overall implementation, governance, and alignment with European Commission and industry standards. He also emphasized the importance of comprehensive management to ensure quality, risk mitigation, and the project’s long-term impact.

In addition to its coordination role, Técnicas Reunidas leads Work Package 3 – Hub 1, focused on the sustainable supply of rare earths. In this area, it is driving the development and scaling up of its proprietary RARETECH™ technology, aimed at producing rare earth carbonates and oxides from monazite concentrates sourced from various sources, including primary deposits and secondary materials. This process yields commercially viable products free of radioactive components, contributing to a safer and more sustainable supply chain.

PERMANET is structured around three technology hubs covering the entire value chain: from the sustainable supply of rare earths, through circular innovation in recycling, to the advanced production of magnets and their validation in industrial applications such as electromobility, energy, and industrial equipment.

The project stands out for its comprehensive approach, which combines research, technological development, and industrial scaling, with the aim of establishing a resilient and circular European value chain centered on rare earth permanent magnets.

Técnicas Reunidas’ participation and leadership reinforce its position as a key player in the development of technological solutions for the challenges associated with critical raw materials and the transition toward a more sustainable economy.

Técnicas Reunidas leads the project that will create the first European value chain for the production of permanent magnets

  • The project, known as PERMANET, is of great strategic importance for addressing the European Union’s (EU) weakness in the manufacturing of products that are essential for digitalization and the energy transition.
  • Its goal is to increase the EU’s annual production capacity for permanent magnets twentyfold by 2050.
  • It will be carried out by 34 partners, including companies, research centers, clusters, and universities.
  • The manufacture of permanent magnets requires access to technologies for the production of rare earth elements, an area in which Técnicas Reunidas has extensive experience and technological solutions that it already supplies to the market.

 

Técnicas Reunidas has been designated as the lead company for the PERMANET Project (PERmanent MAgnet Network for the European Transition), promoted by the European Commission (EC) under its Horizon Program, whose objective is to create the first complete European value chain for the production of permanent magnets.

This chain will include the extraction, processing, and refining of rare earths, which form the basis for the production of permanent magnets; the manufacture of the magnets themselves; and their subsequent recycling.

In addition to leading the project, Técnicas Reunidas will undertake, at its Technology Center, the development of technology that will enable the production of rare earths from minerals and secondary sources for subsequent use in the manufacture of permanent magnets.

The company has proven experience in this field, as it already supplies its own technology, RARETECH, to the market, which enables the production of rare earth concentrates in the form of carbonates from minerals.

Strategic Value and Geopolitical Risk

This is a project of high strategic value, as permanent magnets are a fundamental material for the manufacture of more than 200 product groups that are essential for digital development and the energy transition, particularly for the manufacture of motors for electric vehicles, wind generators, and transformers.

Furthermore, they are subject to high geopolitical risk. Currently, EU production of permanent magnets is extremely low, barely reaching 1,000 tons per year, and is not expected to cover more than 20% of European needs by 2030. Increasing this capacity would require a sharp rise in rare earth imports from China, the world’s leading producer, which currently supplies virtually all of the EU’s demand for these materials.

This excessive dependence on China could become even more serious in the near future, due to the growing demand for permanent magnets to drive the electrification required by the energy transition and the recent decision by Chinese authorities to restrict the export of rare earth processing technologies.

For this reason, the EC approved a Critical Raw Materials Act last year, the regulations for which were established last March, “as demand for rare earths is expected to increase exponentially in the coming years.”

A strong boost to the production of permanent magnets

The PERMANET project is part of this effort to overcome the limited production capacity and weak development of certain segments currently affecting the EU’s permanent magnet production value chain.

The project aims to increase European production of permanent magnets to 2,800 tons per year by 2037, 7,800 tons by 2040, and 21,600 tons by 2050, which would already cover nearly 50% of the EU’s needs in that year.

To this end, the project involves 34 partners (17 large companies, seven SMEs, four research centers, two universities, and four clusters from a total of eleven European countries) and will have a budget of approximately 21 million euros, with a grant of nearly 16 million. It is estimated to last 40 months.

Javier Limpo, director of the In-House Technology Development Division at Técnicas Reunidas, emphasized that “this project, which is essential for advancing European independence in the field of energy transition, will strengthen Técnicas Reunidas’ position as a technological leader in the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements.”

Australia’s St George Mining hires Técnicas Reunidas to process rare earths in Brazil

• The two companies have entered into a strategic engineering partnership under which Técnicas Reunidas will conduct processing tests on high-concentration rare earths at the project being developed by St. George Mining in Araxá, a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais.
• Araxá is the largest hard-rock rare earth deposit in South America and one of the largest in the world.
• Técnicas Reunidas will contribute its proprietary technology, called RARETECH®, to the project, which enables the production of rare earth concentrates in the form of carbonates from ores.
• At the end of last February, the Spanish company also reached an agreement with the Australian firm Osmond Resources to provide RARETECH® technology for the European Union’s first comprehensive rare earth production project, which is being developed in Jaén.
• RARETECH® is part of Técnicas Reunidas’ portfolio of proprietary technologies for the recovery of critical raw materials, rare earths, and other products that the Spanish company has already supplied or submitted for bidding in the United States, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Spain, South Africa, Brazil, and Turkey.
 

The Australian company St George Mining Limited has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Técnicas Reunidas under which it will contract the Spanish company to conduct sample processing tests at the rare earth deposit in Araxá, a town in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.

St George Mining is the 100% owner of this high-grade niobium and rare earths deposit, which is the largest hard-rock deposit in South America and one of the largest in the world. In fact, it is also larger than the main rare earths mine in the U.S., located in the California town of Mountain Pass.

The Australian company, which specializes in developing critical mineral recovery projects, has described the agreement as a “strategic engineering partnership to access cutting-edge European rare earth processing technology.” In particular, it has highlighted the proprietary technological solutions that Técnicas Reunidas has developed for the recovery of critical materials and, more specifically, the fact that it is the lead company in the EU-funded PERMANET project, which aims to create the first European value chain for the manufacture of permanent magnets.

Scope of Técnicas Reunidas’ work

The initial scope of the work to be carried out by Técnicas Reunidas will consist of applying RARETECH® technology for the refining of rare earth mineralization, including the production of mixed carbonate and rare earth oxides, and for the separation and fractionation of rare earth elements.

Additionally, there is a possibility that St George Mining may request additional work from Técnicas Reunidas, which would include the design of a flow diagram and an industrial plant for rare earth processing operations, among other tasks.

St George Mining, which already has its Brazil project in an advanced stage of development and has half a dozen more in Australia, has emphasized that the engagement of Técnicas Reunidas has the potential to open European markets to Araxá’s rare earths and joins the strategic alliances the Australian company has already signed with REalloys in the U.S. and with MagBras in Brazil.

John Prineas, CEO of St George Mining, stated that “we are very excited to work with Técnicas Reunidas to further evaluate the optimal processing route for Araxá’s rare earths, as their reputation and experience in this type of activity is unmatched.”

Técnicas Reunidas’ proprietary technologies for the recovery of critical materials

It is worth noting in this regard that, at the end of last February, the Spanish company also reached an agreement with the Australian firm Osmond Resources to provide RARETECH® technology for the European Union’s first comprehensive rare earth production project, which is being developed in an area of over 220 square kilometers located in the north of the province of Jaén.

RARETECH® is part of the wide range of technological solutions that Técnicas Reunidas has developed, through its In-House Technology Development Division and its Technology Center, for the recovery, processing, and refining of critical minerals and essential metals, as well as other products generated through the circular economy. These in-house technological solutions are already implemented or are being bid on in markets in the United States, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Spain, South Africa, Brazil, and Turkey, among other countries. 

In addition, the company actively participates in the development of national and international projects related to critical raw materials, particularly within the framework of the Misiones Programs of the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) of the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, and the Horizon program of the European Union.

About Técnicas Reunidas

Técnicas Reunidas is a global engineering firm that has developed more than 2,600 projects in over 70 countries throughout its 66-year history. 

It specializes in the design and construction of large industrial plants dedicated primarily to the production of clean fuels, natural gas, and chemical products. 

The company is also at the forefront of technologies and solutions related to the energy transition, the circular economy, and the decarbonization of facilities. 

With a workforce of nearly 14,000 employees, most of whom are highly qualified engineers, Técnicas Reunidas’ headquarters in Spain is a major center of engineering excellence. 

Técnicas Reunidas participates in the CHAINERGY project to reduce dependence on critical raw materials and strengthen European energy autonomy

• CHAINERGY will research new materials and advanced processes for energy storage and generation, promoting the circular economy and the recovery of strategic resources.
• The project is funded by the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI) and is supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities through the Science and Innovation Missions 2025 program.
 

The main objective of the project is to develop sustainable technological solutions that reduce dependence on critical raw materials (CRMs) and advance toward a more resilient energy transition. 

CHAINERGY was launched in response to the challenges posed by the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), adopted by the Council of the European Union (EU) in March 2024. 

This regulation sets ambitious targets for 2030; including extracting at least 10% of critical raw materials within the EU, processing 40% locally, and recycling a minimum of 25%, thereby reducing dependence on third countries and strengthening European strategic autonomy.

In this context, CHAINERGY aims to develop new active materials and devices for energy storage and generation, promote phosphorus recovery processes, and improve recycling technologies for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. All of this is done with the aim of maximizing the value of available resources, reducing dependence on scarce materials, and promoting circular economy models.

CHAINERGY will investigate alternative materials—such as magnesium and manganese silicides—which are abundant, cost-effective, and have a low environmental impact, for the production of thermoelectric generators (TEGs), replacing bismuth, tellurium, or lead, which present economic, geopolitical, and environmental limitations. In this way, it will contribute to strengthening the EU’s position in a technology that is fundamental to various industrial sectors, such as the automotive and aerospace industries, within a global market projected to exceed $1.4 billion by 2030.

The project also focuses on new dry synthesis routes to develop advanced battery materials, reducing waste generation and replacing critical materials, such as cobalt or lithium, with more readily available alternatives.

As part of the CHAINERGY project, Técnicas Reunidas will drive the development of technologies for phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge and agro-industrial waste, generating high-value-added products that promote the circular economy and reduce geopolitical dependence on phosphorus, an objective considered strategic.

In addition, CHAINERGY will develop advanced technologies for safe disassembly and automatic sorting, using computer vision and computed tomography to efficiently and sustainably access the valuable materials present in batteries, which will improve recycling processes and traceability.

CHAINERGY is led by the company HI IBERIA and includes the participation of Técnicas Reunidas, Ferroglobe, Empresarios Agrupados, RIMSA, and AUTLAN. Several leading technology centers (LEITAT, CENIM, CIAE, and ICMM-CSIC) are also collaborating on the project, contributing complementary scientific expertise. The joint efforts of all these entities will ensure that the anticipated challenges are addressed comprehensively.

The project will last four years and has a total budget of €5,264,910, to which Técnicas Reunidas is contributing €1,222,876. 

In summary, CHAINERGY represents a strategic commitment for Spain and for the EU as a whole, as it will contribute to achieving a more sustainable, competitive, and resilient energy transition, based on innovation, the circular economy, and the reduction of external dependencies.

Funded by the CDTI | Grant No.: MIG-20251016

Future: Fast Forward reaches 60% of execution and reinforces Spain’s role as a European hub for electromobility

The Future: Fast Forward project has reached a key milestone in its development, with 60% of the 86 projects launched in 2022 now completed, solidifying the progress of the industry’s electrification as a tangible reality in Spain.

This initiative, considered the largest business consortium in the history of the Spanish automotive industry, is driving an unprecedented transformation aimed at making Spain a leading European hub for electromobility. Led by SEAT S.A. and CUPRA, the project brings together more than 50 companies with extensive experience across the entire mobility value chain, forming a multisectoral ecosystem geared toward an electric, sustainable, and competitive future.

With an investment of nearly 10 billion euros, Future: Fast Forward is having a significant impact on the industrial fabric, with an export capacity exceeding 20 billion euros, the creation of 145,000 direct jobs and more than 100,000 indirect jobs, as well as significant advances in training, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction.

Within this framework, Técnicas Reunidas participates in the cross-cutting circular economy sector by developing technologies for the recovery of critical raw materials and high-value metals from batteries, supermagnets in electric motors, and electronic components in electric vehicles. This contribution enables progress toward more sustainable production models, facilitating the recovery of strategic materials and closing the loop within the automotive value chain.

The progress achieved to date reinforces Spain’s position not only as a production hub but also as an environment capable of designing, developing, and scaling globally competitive industrial solutions in the field of electric mobility.

Video: https://youtu.be/ZxM_amDxpFU?si=ZcQP9GwaYZ2qmyyt

Técnicas Reunidas promotes the SINCER project to recover base metals from metallurgical waste

• The project stems from the need to explore new methods and processes for the processing, recovery, and recycling of key metals from mixed industrial waste generated by the metallurgical industry, which is currently discarded.
• SINCER is funded by the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI) and supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities through the Science and Innovation Missions 2025 program. 
 

Last January, activities began on the SINCER project (Industrial Symbiosis for Circularity and the Economy of Critical Raw Materials), whose purpose is to investigate the recovery of critical metals present in industrial waste from various sources generated by the metallurgical industry.

Its main objective is to promote effective industrial symbiosis through research into sustainable technologies aimed at the recovery and valorization of essential metals, such as manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), magnesium (Mg), nickel (Ni), or chromium (Cr), and key metals, such as zinc (Zn) or iron (Fe), present in such waste.

In particular, the project aims to close material cycles and facilitate their reincorporation into both the original processes and new strategic applications; for example, in batteries, magnets, and alloys. 

The project is being carried out by a consortium led by the company FERROGLOBE, which coordinates the work of five other companies: Técnicas Reunidas, SIDENOR, AUTLAN, Magnesitas Navarras, and Semantic Systems. Nine research organizations are also participating: GAIKER, CTC, CETIM, Idonial, Tecnalia, Leitat, the University of Barcelona, the University of Navarra, and Lurrederra. 

SINCER will generate viable processes that will enable the companies in the consortium to recover and purify elements contained in byproducts that currently have no commercial outlet, converting them into reusable raw materials and thereby reducing their external dependence on raw materials in their production processes.  

Specifically, the plan is to recover up to nine waste streams from the operations of four industrial partners in the consortium (FERROGLOBE, SIDENOR, AUTLAN, and Magnesitas Navarras). For its part, Semantic Systems, a technology company specializing in industrial Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain solutions, is responsible for designing an interoperable digital ecosystem that enables full traceability of the value chain.

To achieve its objectives, SINCER will combine hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes, along with advanced conditioning and separation technologies, in order to maximize resource recovery and improve the circularity of strategic raw materials. These activities will be led by Técnicas Reunidas, which has extensive experience in these processes and technologies. 

The project will last four years and has a total budget of €7,333,603, to which Técnicas Reunidas is contributing an investment of €2,039,289. 

Ultimately, SINCER will help consolidate a robust circular economy centered on critical raw materials, helping to reduce external dependence and generating high-value scientific and technological knowledge for industry.

Funded by the CDTI | Grant No.: MIG-20251225

Técnicas Reunidas promotes the circular economy in the photovoltaic sector through the ReSil2Volt project

• The project addresses a key technological challenge for the energy transition: recovering and processing strategic materials from end-of-life solar panels to reintroduce them into the manufacturing of new photovoltaic cells. 
• Técnicas Reunidas leads ReSil2Volt as part of the RENOCICLA Program, funded by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDEA) and the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO).
 

The project focuses specifically on the recovery of silicon dust (“grey mass”), a complex fraction generated after the primary treatment of solar panels that contains critical materials such as silicon, silver, aluminum, tin, copper, and lead.

Its recovery poses a significant technological challenge, as its composition is heterogeneous and currently constitutes one of the main bottlenecks to achieving a true circular economy in the photovoltaic sector. 

ReSil2Volt proposes a comprehensive solution to recover these strategic materials and return them to the value chain in the form of photovoltaic-grade silicon and silver, suitable for use in wafers and conductive pastes. 

The core of the project is the technology known as ReSil2Volt, a modular hydrometallurgical process free of hazardous waste, designed to operate with high efficiency and adapt to variations in the composition of the raw material. 

This technology enables the recovery of metallurgical silicon (MGSi) and silver chloride (AgCl) with recovery efficiencies exceeding 95%. In addition, the process also recovers other valuable byproducts, such as AlCl₃ (aluminum trichloride) and a metal cement. 

In order to reintroduce the recovered raw materials into the photovoltaic sector, the project will investigate advanced metallurgical purification routes—such as slag refining—to convert the recovered metallurgical silicon into solar-grade silicon (SoGSi), removing critical impurities (B, P, Fe, Al, Ti) and achieving purities in the order of 6N (99.9999%). 

In parallel, the AgCl obtained will undergo controlled reduction processes to generate 4N-purity (99.99%) metallic silver, suitable for producing photovoltaic conductive paste. 

Técnicas Reunidas, the applicant for the ReSil2Volt project, leads the design, research, and validation of all key processes, from continuous hydrometallurgical treatment to metallurgical purification and the production of photovoltaic-grade materials. With its pilot infrastructure, expertise in hydrometallurgy, and track record in developing proprietary technologies such as ZINCEX®, RARETECH®, and PHOS4LIFE®, the company is thus consolidating its role as a leader in the circular economy as applied to critical raw materials. 

The project, which will last 30 months and have a budget of €1,830,394, will be carried out entirely at the Técnicas Reunidas Technology Center, where the technology will be validated and fundamental knowledge generated for its future scaling and integration into industrial photovoltaic recycling ecosystems.

In short, the ReSil2Volt project will enable:

• Reintroduce recycled silicon and silver as high-quality secondary raw materials.
• Reduce dependence on virgin raw materials and the environmental footprint associated with their extraction.
• Develop a modular, scalable solution free of hazardous waste.
• Pave the way toward a circular industrial model for the photovoltaic sector.

 The project is fully aligned with the objectives of the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) on the Circular Economy, the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, and the requirements of the European Critical Raw Materials Regulation.

Técnicas Reunidas participates in PDAC 2026 to boost its capabilities in critical minerals

Técnicas Reunidas participated in the 2026 edition of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Convention (PDAC), held in Toronto, Canada, which is considered the leading global gathering for the mining and natural resources industry. The event brings together more than 40,000 professionals each year, including mining companies, investors, technology developers, and public institutions, establishing itself as a key platform for the development of projects and strategic alliances in the sector.

The company was part of the delegation organized by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Canada, marking its first participation with a joint booth that brought together more than ten leading Spanish companies in the mining and technology sectors. This initiative helped highlight Spain’s role as a provider of advanced solutions in the field of critical minerals.

During the event, Técnicas Reunidas presented the capabilities of its Proprietary Technology Development Division, highlighting its expertise in developing hydrometallurgical solutions for the recovery, processing, and refining of critical minerals, as well as their implementation at an industrial scale.

The company’s participation in PDAC aimed to highlight its position as a technology developer and strengthen its network of contacts with key international players in the sector, in a context marked by the growing strategic importance of critical minerals for the energy transition and security of supply.

Representing the company were Javier Manzano, Commercial and New Business Director of the Proprietary Technology Development Division, and Ignacio Herráez, Business Development Engineer in the same division.

The company’s presence at this forum reinforces Técnicas Reunidas’ commitment to developing advanced technological solutions to address the global challenges associated with critical minerals.

 

Técnicas Reunidas contributes to SERVET project to recover strategic raw materials

• The project investigates advanced technologies for recovering copper, silicon, tantalum, niobium, silver, and tin from consumer waste and complex industrial waste.
• It is funded by the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI) and the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities under the Science and Innovation Missions program for the 2025 call for proposals.
 

The SERVET project (Research on New Circular Economy Processes in the Service of Strategic Sovereignty) helps address one of the most significant strategic challenges for the European Union and, more specifically, for Spain: ensuring secure and sustainable access to certain critical and strategic raw materials (CRMs) through the recovery of waste from consumer products and complex industrial streams that currently lack an efficient recovery pathway.

To this end, it proposes the design of a new circular, efficient, sustainable, and technologically advanced value chain, based on the selective recovery of strategic materials present in waste such as photovoltaic and hybrid panels, printed circuit boards (PCBs), end-of-life vehicle (ELV) fluff (ELVs), steel mill slag, and other complex solid industrial waste. 

The project focuses particularly on the recovery of copper (Cu), silicon (Si), tantalum (Ta), and niobium (Nb), elements that are essential for the energy transition, digitalization, the automotive sector, and the electronics industry. 

It will also investigate the recovery of silver (Ag) and tin (Sn), metals of high industrial value, in order to maximize the economic viability and overall efficiency of the process and thus contribute to strategic sovereignty in alignment with Mission 5 of the Misiones program call for proposals.

To achieve its objectives, SERVET will integrate disruptive technologies to ensure advanced and sustainable recovery through a systemic and interdisciplinary approach that will combine a wide range of activities: advanced pretreatments; intelligent conditioning and sorting of post-consumer waste; selective hydrometallurgical technologies for the extraction of CRMs from complex waste matrices; pyrometallurgical processes to recover critical raw materials from secondary fractions; and online analysis systems using advanced optical technologies (RGB, HSI, LIBS, NIR, Raman) with artificial intelligence algorithms for real-time characterization and quality control.

These technologies will enable the reintroduction of recovered materials into new high-value applications, such as hybrid solar panels or functional conductive inks, thereby closing the full circularity cycle.

The SERVET project is being carried out through a consortium led by the company FRAGNOR (TRADEBE), which coordinates the work of five other companies: Técnicas Reunidas, Atlantic Copper, Abora Energy, LENZ Instruments, and INM (Ingeniería Navarra Mecánica). Four leading technology centers (GAIKER, EURECAT, LUREDERRA, and CENIM-CSIC) are also participating, contributing advanced scientific capabilities in analysis, characterization, and pilot validation. 

The project will last four years and has a total budget of €6,013,229.00, to which Técnicas Reunidas is contributing €1,587,069 to develop hydrometallurgical processes that enable the recovery of Ag, Si, and Cu from a combination of silicon dust waste from solar panel recycling and PCB powder. 

SERVET will have a significant impact on industrial and regional ecosystems by recovering complex waste, preventing its accumulation, and reducing environmental risks, while increasing the efficient recovery of critical raw materials, thereby reducing dependence on imports. All of this is fully aligned with several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—innovation, sustainable industry, climate action, quality employment—and with reindustrialization and the creation of skilled jobs in regions with low industrial density.

Consequently, thanks to its comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach, SERVET will contribute to strengthening the strategic autonomy of Spain and the European Union as a whole in critical sectors, fostering a fairer, more resilient, and more inclusive economy.

Funded by the CDTI | Grant No.: MIG-20251132

Técnicas Reunidas allies with the Australian company Osmond to develop the largest rare earths plant in the EU in Jaén

Técnicas Reunidas has signed a collaboration agreement with Osmond Resources Limited for the development of the Orión Project, a strategic initiative located in the province of Jaén that aims to establish one of the first complete rare earth value chains in the European Union.

The project encompasses the entire process, from mining to processing and the production of final products, positioning itself as a European leader in the production of mixed carbonates and rare earth oxides. This initiative will significantly contribute to strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy in the supply of critical raw materials.

Proprietary technology for the development of critical minerals

The project will be carried out over an area of more than 220 km² in the north of the province of Jaén and will enable the recovery of monazite, a mineral rich in elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium, which are essential for advanced technological applications such as permanent magnets, batteries, and electronic components.

Técnicas Reunidas will contribute its proprietary RARETECH technology to the project, an advanced solution based on hydrometallurgical processes and solvent extraction (SX), which enables the efficient production of rare earth compounds from mineral raw materials.

This technology, developed at the José Lladó Technology Center, is part of the company’s commitment to developing sustainable solutions for the recovery and processing of critical raw materials from both primary and secondary sources.

A key project for the energy transition and European industrial sovereignty

Rare earths are essential for strategic sectors such as the energy transition, digitalization, defense, and electric mobility. Currently, global production is highly concentrated, leading to a strong dependence on third countries.

The Orion Project addresses this challenge by developing industrial capabilities within the European Union, helping to diversify supply and reduce geopolitical risks.

Industrial scope and project execution

Osmond Resources Limited will own the asset, while Técnicas Reunidas will be responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, as well as technological integration.

The estimated investment for the project ranges between 200 and 300 million euros, depending on the final scope, and the plant is expected to begin operations in approximately three years.

Platform for future international collaborations

This agreement represents a strategic step for Técnicas Reunidas in the field of critical minerals, consolidating its position as a technology provider and industrial partner in high-value-added projects.

Likewise, the collaboration with Osmond Resources Limited opens new opportunities for the joint development of similar projects internationally, as well as for the expansion of the company’s technological capabilities in the field of strategic metals.

Commitment to innovation and the circular economy

Técnicas Reunidas actively participates in European and international initiatives aimed at developing sustainable value chains for critical raw materials, including projects for the recovery, recycling, and upcycling of materials.

These initiatives reinforce the company’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the transition toward a more circular and resilient economy.

Técnicas Reunidas to participate in METIUM to promote urban mining and the recovery of strategic materials in Europe

The European METIUM project, funded under Horizon Europe, aims to transform urban waste into a reliable source of strategic raw materials, driving new value chains based on urban mining and advanced hydrometallurgical technologies.

Through an integrated approach, METIUM connects the collection, pretreatment, and advanced recovery of materials into efficient interregional value chains, enabling the recovery of end-of-life products and their conversion into high-value resources. The project seeks to strengthen Europe’s resource independence, reduce reliance on imports, and move toward a more circular and sustainable economy.

In this context, Técnicas Reunidas will participate by contributing its expertise in the development of hydrometallurgical technologies and process solutions for the recovery of critical minerals and strategic metals. Its contribution will focus on the industrial scaling of innovative solutions and the development of robust value chains centered on urban mining.

METIUM is structured around several key technology chains, including batteries, platinum group metals (PGMs), electronic waste (PCBs), and copper and aluminum streams. Through these lines of work, the project will drive the development and scaling of more than 15 technological innovations, with the goal of reaching industrial maturity levels (TRL 9) and facilitating their market implementation.

Notable among the developed solutions are advanced recycling technologies for the efficient recovery of lithium, cobalt, and nickel from batteries; the extraction of precious metals with low environmental impact; the recovery of rare earth elements from complex electronic waste; and the recovery of industrial waste through sustainable chemical processes.

The project also promotes the creation of a network of interregional “Hydromet Hubs,” which will connect industrial and technological capabilities across Europe, laying the groundwork for the development of the first Europe-wide urban mining network.

Técnicas Reunidas’ participation and leadership reinforce its position as a key player in the development of technological solutions for the challenges associated with critical raw materials and the transition toward a more sustainable economy.

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Research, Technological Development, and Innovation at Técnicas Reunidas

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Applied Research

Applied research is at the heart of our ability to transform ideas into real-world industrial solutions—from initial testing to the operation of pilot plants.

Engineering Studies

Our engineering studies provide the technical rigor needed to transform an idea into a viable industrial project through a structured process.

Technology Package

DDTP has more than 40 years of accumulated experience and expertise, offering everything from consulting services to cost-effective and innovative end-to-end solutions.

EPC/EPCm

DDTP offers a full range of technical and management services in the fields of engineering, procurement, and construction of industrial plants.

Technical Support

DDTP provides training to future operators of the industrial plant so that they are familiar with the technology used and the plant's characteristics. 

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