Wroclaw, Poland 2023
“Mining and Green Transition in Central, Eastern, and Broader Europe”
The Forum facilitated essential conversations on the sustainable and dependable sourcing of primary raw materials to meet the needs of the European industrial ecosystems. It also addressed the impact of the European Critical Raw Materials Act, Just Transition, Coal phase-out, and other policies on further opportunities for the mining and metals industry in Central, Eastern, and wider Europe. A special session of the Forum was dedicated to the modernisation mining industry in Ukraine and the opportunity for the development of green metals and materials required to meet climate change commitments.
The importance of securing supply chains for critical minerals is becoming increasingly important as we move away from fossil fuels. China controls over 23% of the global supply of cobalt, which is used in batteries, and this creates a situation where European jobs and industries are vulnerable to market shocks and geopolitical events.
Visit to a Medieval Gold Mining Village at Złoty Stok became an unforgettable experience showcasing post-mining reconciliation and redevelopment of mining areas, turning an abandoned mine town into a thriving tourist attraction and Polish-German heritage center.