Water & critical raw materials

Northern America Africa Middle East Latin America Europe Asia Climate Resilience Water & critical raw materials Water Technology

Growing demand for critical raw materials is creating new opportunities for the Dutch water sector. Mining and processing companies are seeking responsible, resource-efficient and sustainable approaches, creating demand for expertise in water efficiency, water treatment, reuse, monitoring, modelling and resource recovery. Learn more about water’s role in critical raw materials.

Critical raw materials such as lithium, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements are essential for the energy transition, digitalisation and many strategic industries. Their extraction, processing and recovery, however, are closely linked to water-related challenges, including water consumption, water quality and the responsible management and reuse of water.

Dutch water expertise and technology can contribute to addressing these challenges. Opportunities are expected to arise on:

Hydrological studies
Water-efficient mining and processing
Wastewater treatment
Wastewater reuse
Resource recovery
Brine management
Monitoring and modelling.

Interested in joining the working group? Please join the sector consultation meeting to learn more about it.

Date: 18 November 2026
Time: 14:30 - 18:00 CET
Location: NWP offices, Koningskade 40, 2596 AA The Hague

Send an email to Janett Tapia to register to attend.

Help shape a new NWP initiative on critical raw materials

The Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) is exploring the potential for a new Working Group on Water & Critical Raw Materials. The aim is to bring together organisations from the Dutch water sector and relevant stakeholders to explore opportunities, exchange knowledge and identify where collaboration could add value.

We would like to invite you to this interactive session to help shape the initiative. Together, we will explore the interests and needs of Dutch organisations, discuss potential opportunities and identify what a future Working Group could focus on and how it could support its participants.

You do not need to be active in the critical raw materials sector or have prior experience with the topic to participate. We welcome organisations that are curious about these developments, see potential links with their expertise or activities, or simply want to learn more about the opportunities and challenges at the intersection of water and critical raw materials.

What will we discuss?

The session will provide an opportunity to exchange perspectives and explore questions such as:

Opportunities and interests: Where do you see opportunities for Dutch water expertise in the critical raw materials value chain? Which countries, markets and stakeholders are relevant?
Knowledge and information needs: What knowledge, market intelligence or connections would help your organisation better understand and explore these opportunities?
Collaboration: Where could cooperation between companies, knowledge and research institutes, public authorities and international networks create added value?
Potential role of an NWP Working Group: What could such a group offer its participants? Which topics, activities or forms of cooperation would be useful?
Way of working: How could organisations best exchange knowledge, develop connections and potentially work together on concrete initiatives?

Who should participate?

We invite organisations and professionals from across the Dutch water sector and related networks, including:

Private-sector organisations with expertise in water technology, industrial wastewater treatment, water reuse, resource recovery, monitoring, modelling and related services or technologies.
Knowledge and research institutes working on water management, water technology, circularity, raw materials, environmental impact and sustainable resource management.
Dutch embassies and Netherlands Business Support Offices (NBSOs) interested in developments, market opportunities and potential partnerships in countries where critical raw materials are extracted, processed or recycled.

Whether your organisation is already active in this field, is exploring new markets or is simply interested in learning more, your perspective is welcome.

What do we aim to achieve?

The session will help us build a shared understanding of the interests, needs and expectations of potential participants. It will also provide input for identifying opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration, and for determining the possible focus, activities and way of working of a future NWP Working Group.

Join the discussion and help shape this new initiative. Your input will help determine how NWP can best connect and support Dutch organisations working at the intersection of water and critical raw materials.

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