Networking at the exhibition area
As Europe races to meet its green transition goals, the need for new copper and lithium mines has never been more urgent. However, the challenge is twofold: not only must the permitting process be accelerated, but there is also the pressing issue of securing investment. Mining companies are struggling to convince investors to back new projects, even as the demand for critical minerals intensifies. Previously the proponents of the giga-factories in Europe experienced the similar experience. What can miners and investors and miners can learn to move the Europe-focused mining investment needle in motion?
The fireside chat with Timothy Biggs, author of Mining: Why It’s Essential for a Sustainable Future, explored the complexities of mining’s role in society and its misunderstood public image. Biggs, drawing on over 25 years in the industry, emphasized that modern life is fundamentally dependent on large-scale mining, from the smartphones we use to the infrastructure we rely on.
He acknowledges mining’s historic associations with environmental harm and human rights issues, but made a case that the sector is also indispensable for the transition to a sustainable future. The discussion highlighted how technologies essential for tackling climate change—such as electric vehicles and solar panels—require significant amounts of metals like copper, lithium, and iron ore, all dependent on responsible mining.
Biggs urges that, as demand for minerals grows, it is vital for states and societies to engage constructively with mining’s practical realities. At the same time, he stresses that mining companies must address their legacy of environmental and social problems and improve public trust. The discussion combines technical insight with broader reflections on mining’s evolving responsibilities and its central role in enabling climate solutions
Europe needs to significantly increase its domestic production of non-ferrous metals (NFMs) and energy metals by 2030 to meet its raw materials goals. The EU needs to open at least 10 new mines, 15 new processing facilities and 15 recycling facilities for key SRMs by 2030 (while no mine has opened in the past 15 years in the EU), and to finance 15 CRM-related projects in third countries through the Global Gateway.
Mine to Market 4.0: Digital Innovation in Raw Materials Supply Chain Management
The European Union faces significant challenges in implementing its raw materials policy, particularly in balancing the need for critical raw materials with environmental protection and public acceptance. The concept of “invisible mining” is emerging as a potential solution to address these challenges through technological innovation leveraging advancements in robotics, miniaturisation, and AI to enable low-impact, low-visibility underground mining.
Networking at the exhibition area
Examining how advanced mining technology from mineral exploration to processing is crucial for the energy transition, particularly in the context of securing critical minerals for renewable energy technologies and energy storage solutions.
