Vitor Correia

   

Secretary General
International Raw Materials Observatory

BIO

Vitor is Secretary-General of the International Raw Materials Observatory, a non-profit, independent, international association that supports international cooperation in the mineral raw materials’ field, and he works as an independent consultant active in EU and multilateral development projects. Vitor founded and managed companies working in mineral exploration, mine permitting, environmental impact assessment and geotechnics, and he has over 30 years of experience in strategic management, innovation and organizational effectiveness. He began his career as a mine geologist, and he worked in mining, geological engineering and environmental geology projects in Europe, Africa and South America.
Vitor is a member of the Expert Group on Resource Classification of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE; since 2014) and he is Past President of the European Federation of Geologists (2013-2019). He was member of the Board of the Portuguese Association of Geologists (2007-2019) and he’s an Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society of London. Vitor holds a BSc in Geology and an MBA, both from the University of Lisbon, and he holds the EuroGeologist professional title (since 2011)

Session 4
21 October 2025 / 16:00 - 17:30 | Lagoas hall

Mining in environmentally protected areas: from public opposition to public support

Europe faces an unprecedented challenge in securing critical raw materials while maintaining environmental protection. More than 85% of Europe's critical mineral occurrences are located either beneath environmentally protected areas or within 5km of them, creating spatial constraints that affect the Critical Raw Materials Act implementation and raise fundamental governance paradoxes.
Public acceptance, rather than technical feasibility, has emerged as the decisive factor for mining project success in Europe. Traditional approaches relying on expert consensus have proven insufficient to address value-based opposition rooted in environmental protection priorities and place attachment.
The path forward requires integrated solutions combining technological innovation, governance reform, and social innovation. This includes low-impact extraction technologies, mining-recycling coupled business models, and transparent benefit-sharing mechanisms extending beyond mine closure. Europe's response will demonstrate whether democratic governance can effectively address complex, multi-scale challenges whilst honouring both strategic necessities and democratic values.


Fireside Chat: Inclusivity, Social License to Operate, and the Future of Sustainable Raw Materials in Europe
21 October 2025 / 17:00 - 17:30 | Lagoas hall

Mining in environmentally protected areas: from public opposition to public support

Europe faces an unprecedented challenge in securing critical raw materials while maintaining environmental protection. More than 85% of Europe's critical mineral occurrences are located either beneath environmentally protected areas or within 5km of them, creating spatial constraints that affect the Critical Raw Materials Act implementation and raise fundamental governance paradoxes.
Public acceptance, rather than technical feasibility, has emerged as the decisive factor for mining project success in Europe. Traditional approaches relying on expert consensus have proven insufficient to address value-based opposition rooted in environmental protection priorities and place attachment.
The path forward requires integrated solutions combining technological innovation, governance reform, and social innovation. This includes low-impact extraction technologies, mining-recycling coupled business models, and transparent benefit-sharing mechanisms extending beyond mine closure. Europe's response will demonstrate whether democratic governance can effectively address complex, multi-scale challenges whilst honouring both strategic necessities and democratic values.