Tsahkna calls for deadline to end Silmet’s reliance on Russian raw materials

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said a deadline should be set for NPM Silmet to end its reliance on Russian raw materials, ERR reported. The company’s Silmet 2.0 development project was selected by the European Commission on Friday as one of 46 new strategic projects in the European Union.

“We will work with the European Commission to set NPM Silmet a clear deadline for giving up Russian raw materials,” Tsahkna said. He said the strategic project status brought responsibility and that Silmet must act quickly to switch to alternative sources. He added that an industry critical to European security should not remain dependent on supplies from an aggressor country.

Silmet 2.0 is an investment and development plan to adapt the company’s plant infrastructure and production processes to use new sources of raw materials. The Foreign Ministry said the changes are intended to ensure the continuation of production that is strategically important to Europe.

Tsahkna said Estonia would continue to support strong sanctions against Russia while also developing Europe’s production capacity and finding new suppliers. The Ministry said NPM Silmet plays an important role in Europe’s critical raw materials supply chain, with its products used in industries including electronics, medicine, automotive, aviation and defence.

Earlier this week, it emerged that a Russian company supplying rare earth metals to Silmet had been excluded from the European Union’s 22nd package of sanctions against Russia at Estonia’s request. The package has been agreed but not yet approved.