It has been a rough stretch for many ASX lithium stocks recently, but one name is bucking the trend in a big way today.
Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL) shares are surging higher in Tuesday thanks to some big news.
At the time of writing, the lithium developer's shares are up 10% to $5.24.
Why is this ASX lithium stock jumping?
Investors have been bidding the company's shares higher today after it released a major announcement relating to its Phase One Lionheart Project in Europe.
According to the release, this morning the company confirmed that its Phase One Lionheart Project — located in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field in Germany — has officially been recognised as a Strategic Project under the European Commission's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).
This is a significant milestone. The CRMA, introduced in May 2024, is aimed at securing Europe's supply of critical materials like lithium, which are essential for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems.
The release notes that by securing Strategic Project status, Vulcan now has enhanced access to funding opportunities and a faster path through European regulatory processes.
This includes the right to convene a CRMA financing subgroup to discuss public and private financing options, and access to regional and national support through the European Development Fund and Cohesion Fund.
The ASX lithium stock was one of 170 applicants evaluated, with final assessments made by at least four technical, financial, and ESG experts appointed by the European Commission.
It seems that Vulcan Energy's use of geothermal energy has gone down well with assessors. Management notes that its advanced extraction and processing technologies, powered by geothermal renewable energy, formed the foundation of its Strategic Project status application.
Why this matters for investors
The ASX lithium stock's managing director and CEO, Cris Moreno, was pleased with the news and believes it confirms the importance of its project. He said:
Achieving Strategic Project status from the European Commission validates the importance of our integrated lithium and renewable energy project to European industry, and builds momentum for the delivery of Europe's first fully domestic and sustainable lithium value chain.
The CRMA plays a pivotal role in driving change and highlighting the importance of sustainable raw material extraction in Europe. With access to Europe's largest lithium resource, our Project is strategically positioned to support the CRMA benchmarks and diversify the EU's lithium supply away from third countries.
