en.Wedoany.com Reported - ACM - Alchemy & Critical Metals, Ltd. has signed a land reservation agreement with aicep Global Parques, the management company of the Sines Industrial and Logistics Zone (ZILS) in Portugal, to build a refinery with an annual capacity of 10,000 metric tons of antimony metal in ZILS Area 1. The project is expected to create approximately 150 direct jobs and around 300 indirect jobs, with operations planned to commence in 2030.
ACM is a company specializing in industrial solutions in the field of critical metals and strategic materials, focusing on advanced metallurgical processes and the refining of key raw materials for highly complex supply chains. The Sines Industrial and Logistics Zone (ZILS), located in the city of Sines on Portugal's southwestern Atlantic coast, is one of the country's largest industrial and logistics parks. Leveraging the Sines deep-water port, railway and road networks, and high-capacity energy infrastructure, it offers locational advantages for strategic industrial projects.
The project occupies a site of 131,000 square meters (approximately 13 football fields), with the plant and auxiliary facilities covering about 5 hectares. The refinery is designed with an annual capacity of 10,000 metric tons of antimony metal, comprising 7,500 tons from primary antimony production and 2,500 tons from recycling processes. The estimated construction volume is approximately 80,000 cubic meters, with a maximum building height of 15 meters, and will include dedicated facilities such as industrial chimneys and cooling towers. The land use rights are granted for a period of 30 years, renewable.
Antimony is classified as a critical raw material by the European Union under the Critical Raw Materials Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1252) and is an important metal for sectors including energy, technology, semiconductors, automotive, and defense. Currently, antimony production and refining are highly concentrated in a few markets, and recent export restrictions have exposed the vulnerability of European supply chains. ACM's refinery project aims to enhance Europe's processing capacity for critical raw materials and strengthen the security and resilience of strategic supply chains.
From the design stage, the refinery will adhere to Best Available Techniques (BAT) standards. It will be equipped with leak-proof containment dikes and emergency collection basins, as well as advanced gas treatment systems such as baghouse filters and scrubbers to reduce atmospheric emissions. Sulfur dioxide from industrial processes will be converted into sulfates or sulfuric acid to prevent free emissions. Additionally, systems for capturing, stabilizing, and treating hazardous impurities (such as arsenic) will be in place, managed by licensed operators. The establishment of the Sines refinery will contribute to Europe's goal of achieving domestic processing of critical raw materials by 2030, solidifying Portugal's strategic position as a hub for critical raw material processing.
