Meeting demand for critical minerals “requires a profound shift in perception and more education”, Bernd Schäfer, CEO of EIT RawMaterials, said in his opening address to the EIT RawMaterials Summit in Brussels on 14 May.
The event saw mining industry leaders and European government figures gather to discuss the role of public misconception in the stagnancy of European critical minerals.
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According to Anglo American’s group head of strategy, Paul Gait, public perceptions of the mining sector are rated lower than the tobacco industry. “In Europe, mining should be thought of as equally essential as agriculture,” he stated.
For Krzysztof Galos, Undersecretary of State and chief national geologist at the Ministry of Climate and Environment in Poland, a lack of public awareness has gone so far as to stymie the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).
“This [poor public awareness] is an under-appreciated issue compared to a lack of financing, for example. Changing the mindset of whole societies regarding mining, from local to regional, is a great challenge – but it must be done,” Galos said.
Efforts “can start from primary school through education programmes dedicated to geology, mining technologies and raw materials”, he added.
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By GlobalDataEIT RawMaterials, the world’s largest consortium in the raw materials sector, has established a suite of educational programmes across Europe, including the Raw Materials Academy. It also coordinates the Higher Education Initiative, which aims to reach more than 150,000 younger learners across the continent by 2027.
Attendees concurred that improving awareness of the significant role of mining and critical minerals could play a role in improving international cooperation and raw materials diplomacy. Europe currently has 14 strategic partnerships with critical minerals-producing nations around the world.
Speaking exclusively to Mining Technology, Savannah Resources CEO Emanuel Proença confirmed that public perception is a key piece of the mining industry puzzle. The company has 100% ownership of the Barroso lithium project in Portugal, which has been designated as a strategic project under the CRMA and has boosted the nation’s emerging mining industry.
“Local partnerships and job creation have gone a long way in terms of improving the way Barroso was perceived in a region that desperately needed an opportunity to thrive again,” said Proença. “Everyone from policymakers to mining companies contribute to telling better stories and making projects a success.”
The EIT RawMaterials Summit is taking place from 13–15 May in Brussels, Belgium.
