| Project Detail |
Smart technologies for sustainable access to mineral resources
In 2020, the European Commission updated its list of nonenergy, nonagricultural critical raw materials (CRMs). This was based on the scarcity of supply and the importance to the EU industry, comprising 30 CRMs. The European industry and economy depend on sustainable access to CRMs. However, several technological and environmental challenges along the entire production value chain of primary and secondary raw materials prevent secure access. The EU-funded NETHELIX project will demonstrate in real-life settings a toolbox of new technologies for automating and streamlining the extraction process. These technologies will make use of mining and waste deposit processing methods, maximising efficiency, reducing waste production and increasing environmental and human health safety.
Europe’s industry and economy depend on a secure access to many commodities. In 2020, the EC updated its list of critical non-energy non-agricultural raw materials (CRMs), based on scarcity of supply and importance to EU industry. Today, the list includes: Antimony, Fluorspar, Magnesium, Silicon Metal, Baryte, Gallium, Natural Graphite, Tantalum, Bauxite, Germanium, Natural Rubber, Titanium, Beryllium, Hafnium, Niobium, Vanadium, Bismuth, HREEs, PGMs, Tungsten, Borates, Indium, Phosphate rock, Strontium, Cobalt, Lithium, Phosphorus, Coking Coal, LREEs, Scandium.
Securing sustainable access to CRM, is of high importance for the EU economy. However, the EU is confronted with a number of technological and environmental challenges along the entire production value chain of primary and secondary raw materials. NetHelix demonstrates in real life settings a toolbox of new technologies for automating and streamlining the extraction process, taking advantage of deposits through mining and waste deposits processing methods, maximising efficiency, reducing waste production, and increasing environmental and huma health and safety. |
