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)]
