Fireside Chat with Vitor Correia, Sraah Gordon and Peter Tom Jones
The fireside chat, held on 21st October 2025 in Lisbon at the MINEX Europe Forum, addressed the crucial issues of inclusivity, Social Licence to Operate (SLO), and broadening public understanding of sustainable raw materials in Europe.
The discussion, featuring Vitor Correia (Secretary General, International Raw Materials Observatory), Sarah Gordon (Professor of Practice, Imperial College London), and Peter Tom Jones (Director, KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals), highlighted the need for new engagement models, critical thinking, and a sense of urgency to secure Europe’s material autonomy.
Leveraging Documentaries for Public Engagement
The discussion began by exploring the use of documentary film as a novel output for engaging the public on the often-complex topic of raw materials.
- “100 Perceptions: Raw Materials” (VECTOR Project): Sarah Gordon explained that this documentary was born from a research project that placed equal value on social science and geoscience. The aim was to communicate with groups who wouldn’t normally engage with raw materials information. The film was a social science study where 100 diverse, lay-person strangers were invited to spend a night in the Natural History Museum. They were asked a series of questions about raw materials and the energy transition before and after participating in educational games. The core approach was to foster critical thinking by presenting information without bias, encouraging participants to form their own opinions, and respecting their perceptions.
- “Europe’s Lithium Paradox” (Journeyman Pictures): Peter Tom Jones, whose documentary followed a more classical format, stressed the need to create a narrative for the public about “vertical integration from mine to clean tech product and its recycling”—a “Make in Europe, Buy in Europe” concept. He highlighted the challenge of conveying this complex message to a broad audience to address Europe’s lack of a clear strategy or narrative in the current world disorder.
Listening, Dialogue, and Shared Values
A key theme was the difficulty of engaging with opposition and the necessity of changing the approach to dialogue.
- Addressing Opposition: Tom Jones noted that opposition is often complex, ranging from those with an ideological anti-mining agenda to those who are against the clean tech agenda (e.g., electric cars) entirely, as seen in the US “culture war.” He cited the Jadar case in Serbia as an example where these two opposing motivations converged against a single project.
- The Power of Listening: Sarah Gordon argued that people who say they are against mining are often “in violent agreement” with proponents but are using different language (e.g., they might be against capitalism rather than mining itself). The key is to truly listen to find shared values, which can transform opponents into allies or lead to better project design.
- The Importance of Trust: When considering the source of information, both speakers noted that people often do not trust governments or mining companies. Sarah Gordon suggested people are more likely to trust their friends or their own critical thinking process after receiving unbiased facts.
Key Takeaways and the Path Forward
Both panellists concluded the chat by offering concrete takeaways for stakeholders, underscoring a need for immediate and profound change.
For Mining Companies (Peter Tom Jones)
- Adopt “Responsible Mining Version 2.0”: Move away from the traditional model to one that is community-centric and benefit-shared based.
- Co-Creation and Partnership: Treat local communities and environmental movements as genuine partners and even shareholders, rather than passive bystanders or victims. “Otherwise, there won’t be any mining in Europe.”
For Environmental Movements (Peter Tom Jones)
- Acknowledge Reality: “Clean tech requires metals” and the climate transition requires metals.
- End Exporting Responsibility: While recycling and demand-side management help, they “will not solve the problem.” The movement must embrace domestic mining and co-develop an ESGI-friendly (Environmental, Social, Governance, and Inclusivity) model, rather than maintaining an ideologically driven “no” stance.
For Governments (Peter Tom Jones and Sarah Gordon)
- Act with Urgency: “We need to wake up and get our ass out of bed” to move faster. Europe’s institutional complexity and democratic functioning make it slower than authoritarian adversaries like China, who can execute plans quickly.
- Use the Chinese “Can-Do” Attitude (while retaining European DNA): Adopt an engineering approach and clear vision to “just getting things done,” but maintain democratic principles, co-creation, and strong ESGI standards.
- Focus on the Whole System (Sarah Gordon): The challenge is a “materials challenge,” not just a mining one. Focus on the entire system, including design for longevity and recycling.
- Foster Collaboration: “No one country, no one region has all the materials it