Closing speech by Dr. Barroca
LISBON, PORTUGAL – 22 October 2025 – Dr. Jean Barroca, Deputy Minister for Energy of the Portuguese Republic, delivered a powerful closing address at the MINEX Europe forum in Lisbon today, positioning Portugal as a pivotal player in securing the European Union’s mineral supply chain.
In a speech that underscored the geopolitical urgency of the “twin transitions” (green and digital), the Minister outlined a bold, three-pillar strategy for the Portuguese mining sector, moving its focus from raw material extraction to advanced, sustainable value creation.
The Defining Moment: Geopolitical and Technological Imperatives
Dr. Barroca began by welcoming the distinguished policy makers, industry leaders, researchers, and investors to Lisbon, a city “built on discovery,” which he called a fitting place to discuss Europe’s mineral resource future.
He stressed that the accelerating demand for critical and conventional geological resources—from lithium and copper to rare earths—forms the “backbone” of Europe’s climate ambition, powering electric vehicles, wind turbines, and semiconductors.
However, the Minister issued a stark warning regarding the geopolitical dimension. He noted that China’s dominance and its recent export restrictions on materials like rare earth magnets have exposed Europe’s strategic dependencies.
“Let’s be clear,” he stated, “our industries, from automotive to aerospace, from renewables to defence, rely on materials that are increasingly being weaponised these days. That’s why Europe’s response must be bold, must be coordinated and forward-looking.”
Portugal’s Three-Pillar Vision for Modern Mining
Portugal, with its “considerable geological potential,” is ready to play its part, but its ambition goes beyond being merely a source of raw materials. The government is pursuing a vision for a “modern, transparent and innovative mining sector,” guided by three core principles:
- Knowledge: To fully understand the extent and value of the nation’s mineral endowment.
- Portugal is investing in national research and prospection plans, in line with the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). The Minister insisted that “Science must lead the way. Data must inform decision-making.”
- Transparency: To earn public trust and ensure accountability.
- Modernising governance frameworks and ensuring every project meets the highest environmental and social standards is paramount, not just because “Brussels demands it, but because our citizens deserve it.”
- Transformation: To turn resources into long-term prosperity.
- Dr. Barroca clearly stated the future is not in “exporting rocks.” Instead, the goal is to export knowledge, technology, and clean industry solutions. This involves developing a full value chain, from responsible exploration to refining, processing, and advanced manufacturing.
Building a Green Industry Platform
The government’s overarching goal is to “build a green industry at the service of the green transition.” The Minister highlighted that the country is strategically aligning its efforts with both the CRMA and the Net-Zero Industry Act, aiming for Europe to extract, process, and recycle a significant share of its needs at home by 2030.
Portugal is already contributing, with four national projects—three in lithium and one in copper—recognised by the European Commission as strategic. These projects are “signals of trust, signals of technical credibility and signals of European partnership.”
Crucially, the Minister noted that none of this can succeed without societal alignment. He called for a “new social contract for the extractive sector,” where communities see the benefits, feel heard, and share the opportunity. This includes a necessary public education drive to correct misconceptions and raise awareness: “Without mining, there is no green transition.”
A Call for European Unity and Action
Closing his remarks, Dr. Barroca reiterated that knowledge is Europe’s most strategic resource. He urged the continent to act with unity and ambition to build a resilient and diversified supply network through domestic investment, global partnerships, and innovation.
“The future of the green transition is written in the language of minerals. If we fail to secure them, we fail to deliver it,” he concluded. “If we manage them wisely, we will power not just our industries but our democracies.”
Dr. Barroca’s final, unambiguous message was an invitation to the global community: “Portugal is clearly open for business. Portugal is clearly open for partnership and we are ready for transformation.”