Will Europe succeed in opening new mines for lithium, copper, nickel and other energy-transition metals by 2030? Will we become less dependent on China et al. in our transition to climate neutrality? Or will public opposition throw a spanner in the works? These are the questions addressed in the upcoming EU clustering event in Mechelen (BE) on 9 September 2024 (9-12 CET, Martin’s Patershof). The programme is now available.
The context?
Horizon Europe projects LITHOS, ENICON, EXCEED, AVANTIS & CICERO invite you to a round-table discussion where they will showcase their approaches to SLO-related challenges. A high-level expert panel featuring representatives from the European Commission, academia, NGOs and industry will discuss the importance of engaging with civil society on the joint development of a community-centric, benefit-sharing, ESG-friendly, responsible mining model, in the context of the transition to climate neutrality, the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act and the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal. How to integrate non-EU partners such as Serbia, Ukraine, Canada, Chile… and create win-wins? The full programme can be downloaded here: Programme SLO-event Mechelen Sep' 2024
Speakers
Antoine Oger (Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)
Wies Willems (Broederlijk Delen vzw)
Anders Sand (Boliden Mineral AB)
Thomas Gaultier (Savannah Resources PLC)
Kostas Komnitsas (Technical University of Crete)
Robert Tomas (EC, DG GROW)
Toni Eerola (Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) / Geologian tutkimuskeskus (GTK)
Peter Tom Jones (SIM2 KU Leuven) – moderator
Registration
Registration for Social License to Operate for mining in Europe (cirmet.eu)
Background information?
- Toni Eerola, The origin, evolution and impacts of the mining-sceptical movement in Finland, The Extractive Industries and Society, 19, Sep 2024, 101486. The origin, evolution and impacts of the mining-sceptical movement in Finland – ScienceDirect
- As part of EXCEED, Eerola & Kostas Komnitsas performed a first study on the public acceptance aspects of the involved Li projects (Sibanye-Stillwater’s Keliber lithium project, Savannah, EMILI / Imerys). Preliminary Assessment of Social License to Operate (SLO) and Corporate Communication in Four European Lithium Projects. Mater. Proc. 2023, 15, 35. Materials Proceedings | Free Full-Text | Preliminary Assessment of Social License to Operate (SLO) and Corporate Communication in Four European Lithium Projects (mdpi.com)
- Made in Europe (2024). Journeyman Pictures. Watch here: The Race To Beat China's De-Industrialisation Of Europe | Made In Europe (2024) | Full Film (youtube.com). This film is an edited version of "Made in Europe: from mine to electric vehicle" (Nov 2023). [Stijn van Baarle (STORYRUNNER) & Peter Tom Jones (SIM2 KU Leuven / SOLVOMET R&I Centre)]
