If developed, the $2.4 billion Jadar lithium project in Western Serbia could cover 90% of Europe's current lithium needs.
Environmental campaigners are challenging the approval of a coking coal mine in northwest England.
Portugal already has the largest copper mine in the European Union, operated by Lundin Mining.
Oversupply and weak prices of materials such as lithium, cobalt and rare earths are dampening cash flows of Western start-ups.
