Sustainable management of primary raw materials is now more than ever on the European agenda, 
thanks to concerns about responsible resourcing of the metals and minerals we need and an increasing awareness of potential impacts related to mining operations.

SUPRIM Newsletter is now available. Learn more about the latest development and first results of the SUPRIM project.

In past years the extractive industry has radically progressed in productivity and energy efficiency and is still implementing new solutions aiming at further reducing the energy consumption/unit and improving carbon-intensive operations. As the world shifts to a low-carbon future, mining companies explore methods of decarbonisation in order to efficiently and effectively fulfil the continued increasing demand for resources.

This document aims to contribute to the international and European collaborative effort among all stakeholders, and to be a source of inspiration for international and national policy makers to support decisions and regulations concerning the sustainable transition of the extractive industry. The objective of the publication is to demonstrate the technology solutions that the extractive industry implements to reduce greenhouse gas footprint.

Joint Eurometaux / Euromines Position Paper (submitted to European Commission January 2019)

A. Energy Prices and Costs in Europe (European Commission)

Published every two years, this most recent report underlines the EU's exposure to volatile and growing fossil fuel prices and notes that wholesale prices have started to rise again. Future electricity production costs are expected to increase for fossil fuel-generated electricity (due to import prices and the carbon price) and fall for renewables (linked to the decreasing costs of investment as technologies evolve), with the report suggesting that that electricity market prices could reduce the need for subsidising renewable energy technologies by 2030. 

The EU remains heavily dependent on imports of oil and gas, and the increase in fossil fuel prices (especially crude oil) made the cost of EU energy imports in 2017 rise by 26% to EUR 266 billion. The increase in oil prices could have had a negative impact on EU growth (-0.4% GDP in 2017) and on inflation (+0.6%), the report estimates.

Energy costs for businesses fell from 2008 to 2015 in most of the sectors studied, with the most significant declines appearing in some energy intensive sectors.

The report also considers fossil fuel subsidies (which did not decrease in recent years) in a context of rising energy subsidies to finance the energy transition (€170 billion in 2016). Finally, it contains chapters on the impact of price regulation and the potential benefits of dynamic pricing.

B. Study: Composition and Drivers of Energy Prices and Costs: Case Studies in Selected Energy Intensive Industries – 2018 (Ecofys).

Based on data collected from 189 plants over a 10-year period (2008-2017), the study shows energy prices and costs borne by EU producers operating in 11 energy intensive subsectors: bricks and roof tiles, wall and floor tiles, glass tableware, packaging glass, aluminium primary, aluminium secondary, aluminium downstream, steel (electric arc furnace - EAF), steel (basic oxygen furnace - BOF), nitrogen fertilisers and refineries. Prices for both electricity and natural gas reached a peak between 2011 and 2013 and then decreased. By 2017, recorded prices had returned to pre-crisis levels. Across all sectors, larger consumers are experiencing lower prices and costs. Regulatory components (e.g. network costs, non-recoverable taxes and levies, etc.) have a larger impact on electricity prices than on natural gas prices. Energy costs represent a driver for cost competitiveness, as they account for between 2% and 43% of total production costs in different subsectors. Whereas it is not possible to draw conclusions on the impact of energy costs on margins, a statistically significant negative association between natural gas prices and plant profitability was detected. Finally, the energy costs borne by EU producers appear to be higher than those faced by their international competitors based in Algeria, Egypt, Russia, United Arab Emirates and the US and comparable to those faced by producers in China and Turkey.

Virtually every single thing society consumes ultimately derives from a mine somewhere on earth. Without these raw materials, European citizens would be forced into lives that resemble our ancient ancestors more than the modern world. And not only do metals and minerals permeate our daily lives, they provide the material base for many other European business and industrial sectors, including both basic service and high-tech sectors.

Our first book, Before it's yours, we mine it, informed readers about raw materials and the mining sector, highlighting their critical roles in our daily lives. Now, Before it’s yours we mine it: Industry 4.0 delves deeper into these roles, exploring the role of raw materials in our daily lives as well as how mining has shaped European history and present society, with a special emphasis on how Industry 4.0 is revolutionizing the mining world. 

If you wish to order a hard copy of the book please contact:

Ms. Azi Bairami
secretariat@euromines.be

Price per book: €29

We are pleased to present the book Halkidiki: Forged from Land and Sea by geological expert 
Nikolaos Arvanitidis. In this book, you can find great insights about mineral resources in the Greek region Halkidiki and their significance as well as a forward by Euromines President Mark Rachovides. 

The introduction to the book offers the following description of its contents: 

“Through the pages of this book Halkidiki emerges in the form of a colourful, multi-faceted and high-priced mosaic. A mosaic made so that it looks like it wants to unite the land with the Sea, to embrace and protect together the People in the area. On the basis of this parable of geological coupling, our writer travels from the depths of history to today’s reality, especially in relation to challenges and possibilities that are due to and stem from Nature itself.
A highly distinctive scientific and social approach, from a variety of perspectives, which exudes not only the presence of multidimensional mining, but also all the other activities that co-exist with it and grow next to and around it, generously offering to the people who live and work in Halkidiki, the quality of life, advancement and progress they deserve.”

Download your copy of Halkidiki: Forged from Land and Sea below. 

Euromines Annual Report 2017 “Mined in Europe, Made in Europe” is now available.

The mining sector is improving in all areas of the industry and shows many signs of moving past previous hardships and into a bright future. In this report, you will find information about how Euromines is helping the mining industry remain competitive and secure. There is a section devoted to safety and sustainability in employment as well as one that centers on innovations taking place in the industry. Finally, the report addresses environmental efforts and projects improving energy and resource efficiency.

In this issue of Euromines Newsletter you will find the following articles:

• Forming Global Partnership Across the Atlantic

• Enhancing the Role of European SME’s in Latin American Markets

• Complementary Strengths: Continuing the Partnership Between Peru and the EU

• Actions and Perspectives of the Geological Service of Brazil in the Promotion of the Lithium Business in the Country

• Land Planning in Sabana of Bogotá, Colombia 

• How Mining Could Benefit from Solar Power

• STINGS - An Integrated Novel Approach for Tailing Supervision

• XIV International Congress on Energy and Mineral Resources

The concentration of NOx and CO gases arises predominately from the use of explosives and from vehicles and mobile machines equipped with diesel engines. During the last few decades, a significant amount of research and improvements have been made concerning effective diesel engine operation. 

You can read all about these developments in this new brochure from Euromines. 

Euromines welcomes the Commission’s proposal aiming to promote energy efficiency within the European Union. However, the rules aiming at removing barriers and overcoming market failures should not lead to an overall increase in pressure and economic, social and environmental costs that might subsequently undermine the fundamental principle of sustainable development by making it impossible to serve the essential needs of mankind at present while protecting and ensuring the needs of future generations.