From mineral exploration to sustainable mining: the future of critical raw materials

Mining often conjures up negative imagery: environmental damage, pollution, and disruption to local communities. Yet, as we’ve explored in previous episodes of Pardon My Planet, critical raw materials are essential to modern life. They power solar panels and wind turbines, are at the core of smartphones and electric vehicles, and even play a crucial role in medical technologies, from MRI machines to lithium batteries used in mental health treatments. And these are just a few examples.

So, how can we meet this growing demand while ensuring mineral exploration and mining are more responsible and sustainable?

To explore this question, we’re joined by Jamie Newall, CEO of Quest Critical Metals and involved in EIS, an EU-funded project focused on making mineral exploration more precise and less disruptive, and Stéphane Bourg, president of PROMETIA, an association promoting innovation in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. Stéphane is also involved in SCRREEN3, a Horizon Europe project working to strengthen Europe’s critical raw materials strategy.

The conversation explores advancements in exploration technologies, responsible sourcing practices, and the challenges of reviving a sustainable mining industry in Europe. The episode emphasises the importance of balancing the growing demand for critical raw materials with the need to minimise environmental impact and promote sustainability in the mining industry.

EIS

The Exploration Information System (EIS) project is a Horizon Europe funded project (GA 101057357) that develops new geomodels and novel, fast and cost-effective spatial data analysis tools for mineral exploration. Learn more here.

PROMETIA

PROMETIA is an international non-profit association promoting innovation in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy for mining and recycling of raw materials since 10 years. Discover their work here.