Mining exploration aid 2026-2030: requirements and keys for sector companies

Key data

Mining sector companies in Spain have a concrete window of opportunity for the next five years. Order TED/352/2026 sets the rules for the National Mining Exploration Program 2026-2030: who can request these grants, how projects are evaluated, and what obligations beneficiaries assume. Calls for proposals with specific amounts and deadlines will be published later, but the bases have been in force since March 24, 2026.

The context is significant: the regulation is directly framed within European policy on critical raw materials and the strategy to reduce dependence on third countries for minerals essential to the energy transition. This means that projects aligned with this agenda will have better prospects in the evaluation.

What does this regulation establish?

Order TED/352/2026 is a regulation of regulatory bases, not a direct call for proposals. It establishes the general framework under which specific program calls will be published. The elements already fixed are as follows:

The program covers the 2026-2030 horizon, which implies that there will be several calls for proposals throughout that period. Preparing now, before the first call opens, is the real competitive advantage.

Economic and operational impact

Order TED/352/2026 does not publish specific grant amounts: that information will be included in each specific call for proposals. However, the operational impact for sector companies is immediate on several fronts:

• Public financing opportunity for exploration projects that would otherwise require total private investment. Mining exploration has high costs and long payback periods, so public co-financing can be decisive for making projects viable.
• Alignment with the European critical raw materials agenda: projects that fit this strategy will have better evaluation. This directly affects the technical design and narrative of projects.
• Justification and control obligations: beneficiaries assume monitoring and verification commitments. This implies internal administrative costs that must be budgeted in the project budget.
• Compatibility regime with other grants: the regulation governs it, but the specific accumulation limits will be known in each call for proposals. Companies already receiving public financing should review their situation before applying.

Who does it affect?

Order TED/352/2026 directly affects:

• Mining companies with mineral resource exploration activities in Spain, regardless of size.
• Mining sector entities (associations, technology centers, consortiums) that can submit exploration projects.
• Companies interested in critical and strategic minerals linked to the energy transition (lithium, cobalt, rare earths and similar), which are the program's priority focus.
• CFOs and financial directors of mining companies, who must assess whether their exploration projects planned for 2026-2030 can opt for public co-financing.
• Advisors and consultants in the mining sector who support companies in preparing fundable projects.

Practical example

A Spanish mining company planning to start a lithium exploration project in Extremadura during 2026 can benefit from this program. To do so, the project must meet the eligibility criteria set out in Order TED/352/2026: demonstrated technical viability (geological studies, exploration methodology) and economic justification (detailed budget, cost analysis and expected return).

Since the program aligns with European policy on critical raw materials, a lithium exploration project—a mineral included in the EU's critical raw materials list—would have direct strategic fit with the evaluation criteria provided. The company should already prepare the technical and economic documentation of the project to be ready when the first specific call for proposals is published, without waiting for it to be announced.

Additionally, if the company receives other public grants (for example, FEDER funds or CDTI financing), it must review the compatibility regime established by the order to avoid overlaps that could generate non-compliance.

What should companies do now?

1. Review whether your activity fits the eligibility criteria: the order requires mineral resource exploration projects in Spain, technically viable and economically justified. If your company carries out or plans to carry out mining exploration, you are within the scope of application.
2. Identify what exploration projects you have planned for 2026-2030 and assess which ones could be submitted to a call for proposals. The sooner you define the technical and economic scope, the better positioned you will be when the first call opens.
3. Align the project with the critical raw materials agenda: if the mineral subject to exploration is on the European critical raw materials list, document that alignment. It will be a relevant evaluation argument.
4. Review compatibility with other grants you already receive: the order regulates the compatibility regime. If you have active public financing, analyze whether it can be combined with these grants before submitting an application.
5. Prepare the justification and control structure: beneficiaries assume monitoring obligations. Define internally who will be responsible for the administrative management of the subsidized project and what control systems you will need.
6. Monitor the publication of specific calls for proposals: the bases are already in force, but the specific amounts, deadlines and conditions will come with each call for proposals. Set up alerts for the BOE or use regulatory monitoring tools to not miss the deadline.