• In the long term, the National Programme for the Exploration of Critical Raw Materials aims to enhance the security of supply of raw materials for Poland and the European Union by identifying new mineral deposits for the production of critical raw materials.
• Adopting the KPPSK as the key element of the raw material policy of the state will help reduce dependence on third countries for raw materials, increase self-sufficiency and mitigate the risk of supply chain disruptions. It is intended to support the development of strategic sectors of the Polish and EU economies and to improve the security of supply of raw materials essential for the energy and digital transitions and the defence industry.
• In accordance with the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), each EU Member State is required to draw up and implement a National Exploration Programme focused on sources of critical raw materials (KPPSK). These programmes should be reviewed at least once every five years and updated as necessary.

On 2 September 2026, the government adopted a resolution establishing the multi-annual “National Programme for the Exploration of Critical Raw Materials”. The programme is intended to reduce dependence on third countries for raw materials in the long term, increase self-sufficiency and mitigate the risk of supply chain disruptions. It is intended to support the development of strategic sectors of the Polish and EU economies and to improve the security of supply of raw materials essential for the energy and digital transitions and the defence industry. EU Member States are required to adopt and implement such programmes under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).

This is a turning point. We are launching a programme to explore sources of critical raw materials in Poland, which are needed, among others, for the production of batteries, electronics, electric cars, equipment used in the renewable energy sector, medical equipment and modern weapons. The Government has just adopted the resolution on the establishment of the “National Programme for the Exploration of Critical Raw Materials”, which we prepared at the Ministry of Climate and the Environment. We will have a better-recognised resource base for the production of critical raw materials, which will enhance our security and may reduce our dependence on imports of raw materials that are important to the economy, particularly those used in innovative technologies

- says Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska.

The Government is launching a programme which - as a key element of the raw material policy of the state - is intended to contribute to enhancing Poland’s raw material security in the long term. The data collected and analysed to date by the Polish Geological Institute (National Research Institute - PIB) has formed the basis for a programme to explore for sources of critical raw materials in Poland, which are essential to a modern economy. The availability of these raw materials is of great importance for the energy and digital transitions, as well as for the defence industry

- emphasised Deputy Minister Krzysztof Galos, Chief National Geologist.

The KPPSK identifies three categories of priorities for mineral exploration:

• Group I – high priority: exploration for new sources of copper ore, as well as sources of platinum group metals, graphite, barite, fluorite, helium and feldspar-based raw materials;
• Group II – medium priority: exploration for deposits of tungsten, titanium and vanadium, arsenic, bismuth, metallic silicon, phosphates, strontium and new sources of coking coal;
• Group III – low priority: exploration for mineral deposits containing rare-earth metals, gallium, germanium, lithium, hafnium, boron, antimony and scandium, where the prospects of identifying deposits are limited.

The Programme will be implemented by the Polish Geological Institute - National Research Institute, which fulfils the functions of the national geological survey. It will be supervised by the Minister responsible for the environment, assisted by the Chief National Geologist. The programme will be funded by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management as part of the priority programme “Recognising the geological structure for the benefit of the country”. The total cost of the KPPSK for 2026-2033 (8 years) will amount to PLN 185.698 million.

The programme will be carried out using the scientific and technical resources of the State Geological Service. The State Geological Service carries out the State tasks in the field of geology, and its experience and expertise in this area are crucial to the implementation of the KPPSK. The State Geological Service initiates, coordinates and carries out geological work of fundamental importance to the national economy, in particular with regard to the renewal of the country’s raw material base and the determination of mineral reserves. As part of the KPPSK, geological work will be carried out, including: mapping, geochemical surveys and analyses, geophysical surveys and drilling.

The programme is of a technical and analytical nature, focusing on geological surveys (mapping, geophysical, geochemical and drilling surveys). It does not introduce any direct legal regulations or obligations for citizens or businesses. The programme has been drawn up on the basis of geological data collected to date, scientific interpretations and expert analyses. The programme is in line with the provisions of the current medium-term national development strategy.