On the 5th November 2014 the Members of the ETP SMR gathered together for the 5th ETP SMR General Meeting, held at the Metals Conference Centre Cooper in Brussels. The Meeting has been an important forum for discussions on common activities, projects and future events. The members agreed to foster communications and collaborations with the European Technology Platforms as well as other key stakeholders. In this view, it was underlined the importance of disseminating more information to potential members: unlike other similar networks, ETP SMR integrates all stakeholders across the raw-material value chain, overcoming the traditional fragmentation of the mineral resources sector. This is considerably important for the various subjects involved in the raw materials industry. In order to achieve this goal, Members agreed for a broader commitment in addressing Horizon2020 Calls and participating in common projects according to a strategic approach with a close relation with the Knowledge Innovation Community on Raw Materials (KIC RM). Finally, during the meeting Swerea MEFOS has been accepted as Full Member of ETP SMR, after a vote unanimously in favor. Swerea MEFOS is known over the world for its unique large-scale experimental equipment and its ability to conduct extremely large research projects within the areas such as process metallurgy, heating, machining, environment and energy technologies for mineral, etc. The ETP SMR Foresight Workshop “Novel Materials for Energy Applications – Materials technologies vital to meet future energy needs” was held on the 6th November in Brussels. The workshop was focus in the Rare Earth Elements (REE), critical raw materials of high economic importance in various sectors. Dr Evangelos Tzimas, Scientific/Technical Project Manager at the European Commission DG Joint Research Centre, presented the list of this critical raw materials explaining that the criticality is very dynamic, and depend on various...

Great result from the workshop on EU-Africa Cooperation in Mineral Resources that took place in Livingstone (Zambia) on 22nd November 2014. The workshop was preparatory to the Extraordinary Session of the Conference of African Ministers responsible for Mineral Resource Development (CAMRMRD). EuroGeoSurveys (EGS), the Geological surveys of Europe was invited by the African Union Commission and the European Commission to contribute to the debate. Mr Luca Demicheli, the Secretary General of EuroGeoSurveys, highlighted the fruitful cooperation in the field of geology, which is being carried  with the Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS). In this framework the”PanAfGeo” feasibility study financed by the European Commission is assessing how to increase African-owned geological knowledge and skills for sustainable mineral exploitation and related infrastructures, and natural disasters prevention and mitigation. The study is carried out jointly by EGS and OAGS. The sustainable use of resources of geological origin such as minerals and non-energy raw materials and groundwater requires skills based on modern knowledge and technology, adjusted to local needs, as well as mapping geology requires skilled individuals and technical tools, which several Geological Surveys in Africa are not able to afford. The study therefore has also developed a capacity building schema, through the creation of a decentralized specialization school for African professionals. As Mr Demicheli pointed out, this feasibility study plays an important role to increase the geological knowledge of African countries and to allow them to better estimate national mineral reserves, better plan budgets based on expected revenues from these reserves and give increased bargaining power vis-à-vis mining firms. By developing this ambitious pan-African project, this cooperation will strengthen the geological sector in Africa, and will therefore represent a step forward in the political commitment to the development of EU-Africa cooperation in this area. Further developments...

EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) is pleased to present the EGS Meeting Room, a fully equipped area in Brussels for business and institutional meetings, workshops and seminars. EGS Meeting Room is located at the EuroGeoSurveys premises nearby the EU main institutions. In a very bright space, EGS Meeting Room can host up to 30 people and can count on a wide range of high quality facilities and services, such as beamer, flipchart, white board, free Wi-Fi and free coffee breaks. More information on prices and special offers available at...

The Minerals4EU Project was presented at the Stakeholders Engagement event on Tuesday 11th November 2014, at the offices of the worldwide leading accounting network Grant Thornton UK LLP. The event, aimed at engaging with stakeholders at all stages to steer future project developments, has seen a fruitful private-public debate in the context of exploiting the EU minerals rich endowment. The project, which is designed to meet the recommendations of the EU Raw Materials Initiative (RMI), will produce the most comprehensive and official European Minerals Yearbook as well as a foresight study on raw material supply and demand in Europe. A Raw Materials Knowledge Base will make available harmonized data and information from different EU sources. Sound and relevant data will reduce risks. The initial data will be available through a web portal, free-of-charge, from next January. The event was attended by senior professionals of major companies involved with the mining sector, high level representatives of EU Institutions and the project scientific staff. The feedback of the stakeholders has been positive, with many guests openly welcoming the initiative and showing interest towards the market potential demand. Part of the audience requested to receive further information on this and EC alike initiatives. Also, it was highlighted the need to include in the project data layers containing licence (cadastral) information. This aspect is being addressed by the European Commission and further developments are expected. More information can be found...

Successful participation of EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) to the High Level Conference on “How to shape EU Energy Policy so as to boost European Competitiveness?” that took place the 17th November 2014 at the European Commission.    The EU Energy Union is shaped in such a way as to guarantee, not only security of supply for all consumers, but also stable and affordable energy prices for European  businesses. The main political decision-makers and industry CEOs together high-level representatives of national and European institutions, research centers, academics and civil society discussed all the crucial and sensitive components of an EU Energy Union that is able to contribute to boosting European industrial competitiveness: economic, financial and technological conditions required to develop renewable energy and other domestic energy resources in order to reduce European dependence on third-country suppliers; development of infrastructure and internal as well as cross-border interconnections; overhaul of national practices on energy levies, tax components of energy prices and network costs; completion and improvement of the functioning of the EU internal energy market; moderation of energy demand and increase of energy efficiency; adjustment of the EU emissions trading system (ETS); diversification of suppliers and supply routes; etc. In this framework, Mr. Mart van Bracht (EGS President) was invited to explain the situation in Europe on the availability conventional and unconventional fossil fuel resources to reduce EU external dependence and prevent disruptions of energy supply. Mr. Mart van Bracht highlighted that unfortunately there is no detailed pan-European and unambiguous information about sub-surface energy resources, but a really very cautious estimate, based on information and know-how available at present, indicates that reserves of unconventional resources  equals the decrease of conventional  natural  gas reserves and resources in Europe. Europe can still supply a serious part of its energy needs by...