The conference “Mineral Resources and their potential contribution to growth” was successfully held on 20 – 22 November 2014 in Nicosia, Cyprus, with the participation of 84 scientists including a representative from EuroGeoSurveys. The outcomes arising from the presentations and discussions that took place are listed below: There are significant deposits of mineral resources (energy, metallic minerals, industrial minerals, etc.) both in Greece and Cyprus, which if exploited according to the principles of sustainable development, can contribute greatly to the economic growth of both countries. The research and application of innovative exploitation and production methods are necessary for the survival and progress of modern mineral resources exploitation plants. The Greek and Cypriot companies put remarkable efforts towards this target. Mineral resources are becoming more valuable due to their global exhaustion. Thus, deposits with lower concentration are becoming economically exploitable considering the development of new innovative extractive methods for the recovery of the valuable material. Environmental issues were extensively discussed due to bad practices of the past. It was concluded that with the implementation of the current environmental laws and regulations modern companies in the mining industry are now aware of the necessity to protect the environment and the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility. The Government in both countries must include in their planning the exploitation of the Mineral Resources as Development Pillar. This requires simplification of the licensing procedures, which are unacceptably complicated and time consuming. There is a need for further cooperation between academic institutions and the industry, as well as for continuous training of new scientists. A permanent cooperation between scientists and relevant stakeholders from Greece and Cyprus would be useful for addressing problems of this nature and to achieve the common goal that is to promote the mining industry and its...

On the 8th and 9th February 2015 in Cape Town, South Africa, EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) and The Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS) will hold a joint Workshop to present and discuss the final draft of the feasibility study “Geoscientific Knowledge and Skills in African Geological Surveys (PanAfGeo)”. Key stakeholders such as UNECA, UNDP, UNESCO, World Bank and SEAMIC will also take part in the meeting. The study investigated how to increase African-owned geological knowledge and skills for sustainable mineral exploitation and related infrastructures, and natural disasters prevention and mitigation. The Workshop also intends to discuss a possible future multiannual Project – including objectives, methods of implementation, trainings and partnerships – implementing the report’s recommendations. The audience’s feedback is a priority to achieve this ambitious goal, a cooperation that 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. The Workshop will precede the Conference Mining Indaba, foremost global gathering on investing in the African mining value chain, scheduled from the 9th to the 12th February 2015 in Cape...

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...

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...