Closing Remarks – Dr. Jean Barroca, Deputy Minister for Energy, Ministry of Environment and Energy of the Portuguese Republic
hashtagMINEXEurope 2025 | Lisbon
Dr. Jean Barroca delivered a powerful closing message that underscored Portugal’s readiness for transformation — driven by data, innovation, governance, and transparency.
He emphasized that mining must no longer be seen as exploitation, but as an enabler of the Green Transition — a sector that creates value, advances technical capabilities, and builds trust with communities through visibility, accountability, and shared benefits.
Key insights from his remarks included:
🔹 Transparency and governance ensure legitimacy and strengthen the social contract between government, industry, and society.
🔹 Innovation platforms and industrial clusters are central to accelerating investment and creating a homegrown industrial supply chain for critical minerals by 2030.
🔹 The future is about exporting technology, not rocks — building knowledge resources, social alliances, and advancing technical capabilities to sustain long-term economic security.
🔹 Portugal’s focus on lithium, copper, and tungsten exemplifies its commitment to developing responsible and sustainable mining operations.
🔹 Collaboration, education, and community engagement are essential to remove the “Not in My Backyard” barriers and ensure that progress is both inclusive and responsible.
His message was clear:
“Portugal is ready for transformation — ready to lead with transparency, trust, and technology.”
