EU Commissioner Visit Spotlights Viridis Mining Colossus Rare Earth Project

EU Commissioner Visit Positions Colossus Within Europe's Critical Minerals Conversation

The Viridis Mining and Minerals Colossus Project EU Commissioner Brazil visit has placed the company firmly within one of the most important policy conversations in global mining today. Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd (ASX: VMM) reported that its Colossus Rare Earth Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil, was selected as the sole critical minerals site visit during an official European Union (EU) mission to Brazil on 20 June 2026.

According to the ASX announcement, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela visited Viridis' Rare Earth Research and Processing Centre (CPTR) in Poços de Caldas, toured the newly commissioned Demonstration Plant, and received a detailed briefing on the Colossus Project and its potential role in diversified rare earth supply chains between Brazil and Europe.

The delegation included:

• Members of the Commissioner's Cabinet
• Senior officials from the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA)
• Representatives from the European Investment Bank (EIB)
• Officials from the EU Delegation to Brazil

The visit formed part of the EU delegation's official programme ahead of the EU-Brazil Investment Forum in Brasília, and is described by Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd as an important step in its ongoing engagement with European institutions on critical raw materials.

Why This Visit Matters for Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd

The announcement frames the Commissioner's visit as a key development in discussions around rare earth supply chains and international cooperation. Several elements are likely to interest investors.

Exclusive Project Selection

Colossus was reported as the only critical minerals project visited during the mission. For a junior developer such as Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd, this positions Colossus within a relatively select group of projects being actively engaged by European policymakers.

Institutional Profile of the Delegation

The presence of DG INTPA officials and EIB representatives indicates that discussions covered both policy and potential financing frameworks. Furthermore, the announcement states that a "range of potential support mechanisms" was discussed, including:

• Measures aimed at enhancing investment certainty
• Approaches to strengthening supply chain resilience
• Options for accelerating project delivery

Alignment With EU Policy Priorities

Discussions during the visit reportedly focused on:

• Secure and resilient critical minerals supply chains between Brazil and Europe
• How Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd and its strategic offtake partner Solvay are contributing to rare earth industrialisation in Brazil
• The potential role of Colossus in supporting Europe's industrial, technological and energy transition objectives

The company notes that these discussions are part of a "broader ongoing engagement" with EU stakeholders regarding potential future support for the Colossus Project. However, the announcement does not state that any formal funding, regulatory status, or binding support frameworks have been concluded at this stage.

What Colossus Offers: Rare Earths, Processing and Project Status

The Colossus Rare Earth Project is the flagship asset of Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd. According to the ASX release, the project:

• Is located in Minas Gerais, Brazil
• Has a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and Ore Reserve Estimate for rare earth elements
• Has completed a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS)

Rare earth elements (REE) are used in:

• Permanent magnets for electric vehicle motors
• Wind turbines
• Electronics and advanced manufacturing
• Defence and other high-technology applications

During the EU visit, Commissioner Síkela toured Viridis' Demonstration Plant at the CPTR facility and was presented with the latest status of Colossus, including the project's contribution to diversified rare earth supply chains and Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd's stated approach to sustainability, community engagement and responsible development. Notably, the Demonstration Plant tour offered the delegation direct exposure to the company's processing capabilities rather than only desktop studies.

Recent Development Timeline Around Colossus

The Commissioner's visit follows a sequence of recent milestones publicly reported by Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd:

This sequence indicates that Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd has:

• Demonstrated the ability to produce MREC, an intermediate rare earth product
• Entered into a non-binding LoI for strategic offtake and technical cooperation with Solvay
• Attracted a senior EU delegation to its project and processing centre shortly after commissioning of the Demonstration Plant

For investors, this combination of technical progress, commercial engagement and institutional dialogue may be relevant when assessing where Colossus sits in the development pipeline.

"As the sole critical minerals project visited during the mission, the visit provided an important opportunity to demonstrate the progress we have made and to discuss how Colossus can contribute to Europe's long-term objectives of securing resilient and diversified rare earth supply chains," said Rafael Moreno, Managing Director of Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd.

"We believe the project has the potential to become one of the most significant rare earth developments in the Western world, capable of supporting the long-term industrial, technological and energy security ambitions of Brazil, Europe and its western partners."

Educational Section: Rare Earths, MREC and Why They Matter to Europe

What Are Rare Earth Elements and Why Are They Important?

Rare Earth Elements (REE) are a group of 17 metallic elements used in many modern technologies. They are not usually rare in terms of abundance, but they rarely occur in concentrations that are easy to mine and process.

Key uses include:

• Permanent magnets in electric vehicle motors and wind turbines
• High-performance electronics and sensors
• Defence applications such as guidance systems and communications
• Various industrial catalysts and glass polishing compounds

The combination of rising demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy has, consequently, increased focus on stable and diversified rare earth supply.

What Is Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC)?

In its 26 May 2026 ASX release, Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd reported that the Demonstration Plant produced its first Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC). MREC is:

• An intermediate product created by processing rare earth-bearing ore
• A mixture of carbonate compounds containing different rare earth elements
• Typically sent on for further separation and refining into individual rare earth oxides and metals

A Demonstration Plant that can consistently produce MREC shows that the processing flowsheet works at a practical scale, helps reduce technical risk before moving to larger commercial plants, and provides material for potential offtake partners such as Solvay to evaluate and test.

How Does the EU Critical Raw Materials Act Relate to Projects Like Colossus?

According to the ASX announcement, the EU has identified rare earth elements as critical to its strategic autonomy goals, energy transition plans and industrial and technological objectives. The Critical Raw Materials Act is one of the EU's main tools for:

• Reducing reliance on concentrated supply sources for critical minerals
• Encouraging diversified and secure supply chains
• Promoting international partnerships in what it refers to as "critical raw materials"

From this perspective, projects such as the Colossus Rare Earth Project are of interest where they can provide new supply sources of rare earths, demonstrate credible processing capacity, and operate in jurisdictions that are regarded as supportive of mining investment. The ASX release states that Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd believes Colossus is "strongly positioned" to contribute to these objectives given its scale, development potential and location in Brazil.

Discussion Themes During the Commissioner's Visit

According to Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd, the visit allowed for detailed discussions between its executive management and Commissioner Síkela on several fronts. Key themes included:

Secure and Resilient Supply Chains

The focus was on building robust critical minerals supply links between Brazil and Europe, consistent with policy discussions at the G7 Critical Minerals Investment Forum that Viridis attended.

Project Role Within Brazil–Europe Cooperation

Consideration was given to how the Colossus Project, in partnership with Solvay, might support rare earth industrialisation in Brazil and contribute to Europe's energy transition and industrial objectives.

Potential Support Mechanisms

In addition to supply chain discussions, the announcement notes that the parties discussed:

• Measures that might enhance investment certainty
• Approaches to strengthen supply chain resilience
• Options that could accelerate project delivery for critical minerals developments

Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd states that these discussions feed into an ongoing dialogue with EU institutions about future cooperation opportunities and support frameworks. No specific instruments, funding amounts or binding mechanisms are disclosed in the announcement.

Broader Corporate and Jurisdictional Context

The ASX announcement reiterates that Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd is a diversified exploration and development company with a portfolio that includes:

Brazil is widely recognised as a long-standing mining jurisdiction. In the context of Colossus, Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd highlights Brazil as a supportive mining jurisdiction and frames the project as having the potential to feed into both Brazilian industrial ambitions and European supply requirements.

Why This Development May Interest Investors

From an investor perspective, the announcement combines several elements worth noting.

Technical Progress at Project Level

• Production of first MREC from the Demonstration Plant
• Existence of a PFS, Mineral Resource Estimate and Ore Reserve Estimate

Commercial and Industrial Relationships

• Non-binding LoI with Solvay for offtake and technical partnership
• Engagement with industrial consumers focused on permanent magnets and electrification supply chains

Institutional Engagement in Europe

• Official visit by an EU Commissioner responsible for international partnerships and critical raw materials
• Participation by DG INTPA, EIB and EU Delegation officials
• Ongoing discussions regarding potential future cooperation and support frameworks

For Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd, this combination signals that Colossus is being actively considered within broader discussions about rare earth supply diversification. However, the announcement remains careful to describe support mechanisms as potential and subject to ongoing engagement, without presenting them as settled outcomes.

Investors monitoring the company may focus on:

• Any future updates regarding formal agreements with European institutions
• Advancement of the Solvay LoI towards binding offtake or collaboration arrangements
• Progression from PFS-level studies towards more advanced feasibility work and project financing steps

Key Takeaways on Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd and Colossus

Based on the 22 June 2026 ASX announcement, the current position can be summarised as follows.

Colossus Project:

• Rare earth project in Brazil with MRE, Ore Reserve and completed PFS
• Demonstration Plant at CPTR has produced first MREC

Institutional and policy engagement:

• Selected as the only critical minerals project visited during an EU mission to Brazil
• Visit led by EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela, with participation from DG INTPA, EIB and the EU Delegation to Brazil
• Discussions around secure supply chains, Brazil–Europe cooperation and potential support mechanisms

Corporate positioning of Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd:

• Portfolio across Brazil, Canada and Australia, with Colossus as the lead rare earth asset
• States an intention to continue building relationships with European stakeholders as policy and investment frameworks for critical raw materials evolve

The announcement suggests that Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd is working to position Colossus as a contributor to emerging rare earth supply chains serving Brazil and Europe, while technical and commercial work on the project continues.

Want to Know More About Viridis Mining and Minerals' Colossus Project?

With the Colossus Rare Earth Project attracting an official EU Commissioner visit, producing its first Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate from its Demonstration Plant, and securing a strategic Letter of Intent with Solvay, Viridis Mining and Minerals Ltd (ASX: VMM) is building a compelling case as a rare earth developer of genuine institutional interest. Investors looking to understand the full scope of the Colossus Project, its development status, and what this high-profile EU engagement could mean for the company's trajectory should read the full ASX announcement here.