Dutch investment fund targets critical raw materials

Invest International, a national investment entity operating on behalf of the Netherlands, has set up a fund aimed at reducing Dutch and European dependence on access to critical raw materials.

The initiative will leverage Dutch technology to enhance efficiency, recycling and the development of alternative materials.

The announcement was made by Lara Muller, director of new business at Invest International, alongside Reinette Klever, the Netherlands’ minister for foreign trade, during the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto.

Greater independence

Invest International intends to collaborate with financial institutions such as banks, pension funds and organisations from neighbouring EU countries to establish the fund.

The initiative aligns with the Dutch and European strategic objective of achieving greater independence in key industries, particularly those concerned with the energy transition, digitalisation, aerospace and security. Several European nations, including Germany, France, Italy, Estonia, Sweden and Finland, already have similar initiatives.

Secure access 

Muller says international cooperation is crucial. ‘We cannot achieve this alone and must work together with like-minded and allied nations. Through this fund, we aim to secure access to critical raw materials for our industries, mitigate vulnerabilities and risks in international supply chains, and ultimately strengthen the Netherlands’ global competitiveness.’

Lithium, cobalt, nickel  

Key technologies have been identified as being crucial for the Netherlands. For example, energy transition requires lithium-ion batteries, permanent magnets for wind turbines and electrolysis plants for green hydrogen production.