Dedicated to the production and marketing of tungsten – recognised as a fundamental raw material – Saloro SLU is an international leader in the provision of the crucially important metal. Evren Oren, COO, tells us more about the historic industry and the company’s innovative plans for the future.
TITANS OF TUNGSTEN
Known as one of the toughest materials in nature, tungsten is incredibly durable and has the highest melting point of any metal, making it vital in high-performance industrial applications.
After extraction, it is typically refined into ammonium paratungstate (APT), which is then converted into products such as tungsten powders or ferrotungsten alloys used to strengthen steels.
Relied upon globally, tungsten supports critical functions in sectors ranging from tooling and mining to aerospace and electronics, making it truly integral to modern economies.
Evren Oren, COO of Saloro SLU (Saloro), became interested in this instrumental industry at a young age, driven by a deep appreciation for nature and the outdoors.
“A defining moment came during high school when I visited a historical, non-operational tungsten mine in Uludağ, Turkey. Although it ceased activity in the 1980s, the scale of the old workings and the integrity of industry with the natural environment left a strong impression on me,” he introduces.
After graduating with a mining engineering degree, Oren began his career with a traditional German engineering firm serving the global mining sector. He spent several years working on-site at processing plants across multiple continents as a technical expert before transitioning into commercial and senior management roles.
“Tungsten has remained a central thread throughout my career,” Oren states.
Currently, the mining industry is undergoing a defining moment, with critical raw materials – particularly strategic elements like tungsten – now being central to the energy transition, digitalisation, and defence policies. As such, demand is far outpacing supply, making mining not only relevant but vital.
The sector has become a key player in global discourse, bringing both opportunity and responsibility.
“Those of us in the industry have long understood that mining underpins every facet of modern life. Today, the world is catching up,” divulges Oren.
This is exactly where Saloro emerges as a global industry leader.
As one of the few active tungsten producers in the EU and a key player in securing strategic raw materials for the region, the company operates the Barruecopardo tungsten mine in Western Spain, approximately 90 kilometres (km) from the city of Salamanca.
The mine has a legacy dating back nearly a century and resumed production in 2019.
In January 2024, Saloro was acquired by EQ Resources Ltd — a company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (EQR:ASX) and the largest tungsten concentrate producer outside of China — bringing renewed technical and managerial focus.
“Today, we directly employ about 120 people, with a total workforce of around 200 including contractors, making us one of the largest local employers,” details Oren.
AS TOUGH AS TUNGSTEN
The tungsten market is unlike any other, with the challenge not being competition but adequate supply. Many projects never surpass the feasibility stage due to technical, environmental, or financial hurdles.
What differentiates Saloro is its ability to turn around underperforming assets by deploying proven operational models.
“From geology to processing, we’ve assembled a high-calibre technical team that applies data-driven, field-tested strategies to improve recovery, reduce costs, and extend the life of mine,” expands Oren.
Additionally, as one of the largest tungsten producers in the world, the company is looking to expand its production even further. One of its most important ongoing initiatives to achieve this is the optimisation of its process plant – an effort that builds on a series of strategic upgrades carried out over recent years.
Saloro has progressively improved its circuit by increasing jaw crusher capacity, replacing the hydrosizer with a more efficient screen and cyclone system, classifying ahead of shaking tables, expanding the table circuit, converting from batch to continuous flotation, installing a drum filter for improved dewatering, and fully automating the thickener.
“These combined upgrades have significantly enhanced throughput and recovery,” insights Oren.
Now, the company’s focus is on fine-tuning performance through tighter process control, reagent optimisation, and reinforcing operational discipline. This is done at supervisor and operator levels, where these refinements are supported by a broader initiative to shift towards a culture of daily performance ownership.
In parallel, Saloro has launched a preventative maintenance and reliability programme aimed at reducing unplanned downtime and extending asset life in addition to improving workforce development. These efforts support safer, more stable performance whilst fostering a culture of continuous improvement, which is essential for long-term success.
On the mining and geology front, the company employs a flexible mining schedule that adjusts dynamically to changing geological conditions, market trends, and production quality.
This flexibility is guided by a clear set of milestones, allowing the company to actively align its mining strategy with resource availability and recovery targets.
“Together, these reflect Saloro’s deep commitment to technical excellence, operational discipline, and building a resilient, agile team capable of delivering consistent results in a dynamic and challenging environment,” prides Oren.
THE IRREPLACEABLE BARRUECOPARDO
Barruecopardo is Saloro’s flagship project and one of only three operating tungsten mines in the EU, playing a strategic role in securing Europe’s access to critical raw materials.
With global tungsten supplies typically originating from China and North Korea, Barruecopardo offers a reliable, ethical, and environmentally responsible alternative.
“Our location in Spain allows us to deliver materials with low emissions, with our solar park currently in tendering phase and an ongoing sorter project decreasing the carbon footprint and further aligning with Europe’s green transition goals,” details Oren.
In parallel, the company is currently advancing a series of strategic investments designed to enhance operational efficiency, extend mine life, and solidify its position as the continent’s leading tungsten producer.
A key initiative is the launch of an extensive drilling campaign aimed at updating and expanding Saloro’s mineral reserves – essential for ensuring long-term production stability and supporting future growth.
“On the processing front, we’re expanding our X-ray transmission technology (XRT) sorting capacity with the installation of a third unit,” informs Oren.
“This will further optimise early-stage waste rejection, reduce the burden on downstream circuits, and improve overall plant efficiency in line with our low-impact, high-efficiency operations.”
Additionally, the company is expanding its downstream capacity with new high G-force Falcon Gravity Concentrators and shaking tables to improve tungsten recovery across a wider particle size range whilst investing in auxiliary technologies.
These include dewatering systems and automation to enhance processing comfort, ensure greater operational stability, and reduce energy and water consumption.
“Together, these efforts reflect a comprehensive, forward-looking strategy – not just to boost production volumes but to build a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable operation,” dictates Oren.
MINING FOR A BETTER FUTURE
Saloro operates in an environmentally and socially sensitive region, located close to two natural parks and inside a wildlife conservation area. The surrounding region is also agriculturally active, adding further layers of responsibility.
“From day one, we have actively engaged with local communities, supporting education, healthcare, and municipal initiatives,” insights Oren.
“Approximately 99 percent of our workforce comes from nearby towns, and 24 percent of our employees are women – well above the industry average in Spain. This reflects our commitment to inclusivity and regional development.”
Saloro’s collaborates with a wide range of local stakeholders – from environmental authorities and government bodies to schools, universities, and healthcare centres. It also regularly contributes to community health programmes alongside actively supporting environmental rehabilitation efforts in and around the mine.
Equally, it works closely with birdwatching and wildlife organisations to monitor and protect local fauna, with biodiversity and ecosystem preservation being an integral part of its operations.
“At Saloro, sustainability and community engagement are not side activities – they are central to how we operate and define our long-term success,” prides Oren.
As the company looks towards a sustainable and prosperous future, it is targeting a 30 percent increase in tungsten production by the end of 2025.
This growth will primarily be driven by improved efficiency and recovery rates rather than proportional increases in downstream processing.
“Our strategic priorities include advancing exploration, updating the reserve statement, and evaluating satellite resource potential. All of this supports a longer mine life and greater production stability,” concludes Oren.
SALORO SLU PARTNER
