Primigea (the Spanish Confederation of the Mineral Raw Materials Industries), founded in 2019, represents the full spectrum of Spain’s non-energy extractive sector—from aggregates, clays, and industrial minerals to metallic mining and metallurgy. Its mission is to advocate for the sector across national and international institutions while promoting sustainable development through technical excellence, environmental stewardship, safety, and responsible resource management.
One of the achievements we are most proud of is the approval by the Spanish Council of Ministers of the first Action Plan 2026–2030 for the Sustainable Management of Mineral Raw Materials. This milestone marks a turning point: after more than four decades without a comprehensive national strategy, Spain now has a structured, forward-looking framework built on 34 actions and backed by an initial budget exceeding €414 million. The Plan implements the 2022 national Roadmap and is complemented by the National Mining Exploration Programme 2026–2030, reinforcing both resource knowledge and supply security.
Primigea played a decisive role throughout this process. At a critical moment during the pandemic, we initiated dialogue with the Government, highlighting the strategic importance of mineral raw materials. We subsequently submitted a draft proposal that served as the foundation for the official strategy, actively contributing through consultations and formal feedback. This collaborative effort ultimately led to the adoption of a policy framework that recognizes mineral raw materials as essential for economic resilience and strategic autonomy.
The impact of this achievement extends well beyond our organization. It strengthens the competitiveness and sustainability of the European mining sector by promoting resource efficiency, supporting circular economy principles, and ensuring secure domestic supply chains—key elements in a context where raw materials are critical for energy transition and industrial value chains. The main challenges included aligning diverse stakeholders and integrating innovation into established structures; however, these challenges also created opportunities to foster collaboration, drive innovation, and build long-term capabilities.
As Euromines celebrates its 30th anniversary, we recognize the vital role this network has played in our journey. Membership has enabled Primigea to engage in high-level advocacy, stay closely aligned with European regulatory developments, and exchange best practices with industry peers. This has strengthened our strategic positioning and amplified our voice at the European level, contributing directly to our growth and effectiveness.
Looking ahead, Primigea’s priorities focus on advancing digitalisation, enhancing sustainability performance, and reinforcing stakeholder engagement. This includes continued efforts in emissions reduction, water management, biodiversity promotion, and the deployment of innovative technologies across the value chain.
We see our organization as an active contributor to the future of mining in Europe—supporting a secure, sustainable, and responsible supply of mineral raw materials. Through ongoing collaboration within Euromines and beyond, Primigea will continue working towards a sector that is not only competitive but fully aligned with Europe’s environmental, social, and industrial ambitions.
