International Raw Materials Observatory

🎞️ AVANT-PREMIERE “Not in my country: Serbia’s lithium dilemma” - Ljubljana, 19 February - #IRTC25. Watch and discuss the screening of the new documentary film “Not in my country” on February 19, 2025 at #IRTC25 in Ljubljana. A new STORYRUNNER/SIM2 KU Leuven documentary about Serbia’s lithium dilemma, where Peter Tom Jones engages with a multitude of voices from the #Jadar Valley, Belgrade, and Brussels. 🔎 Many questions In "Not in My Country: Serbia’s Lithium Dilemma” Dr. Peter Tom Jones, Director of the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals (SIM2 KU Leuven), seeks to understand how unlikely allies such as pro-Russian, conservative Serbian nationalists; local farmers; urban environmentalists; and pro-European, pro-democracy Serbs can unite against the Jadar #lithium project. Jones explores pressing questions: Can Rio Tinto be trusted to uphold the strictest #ESG-standards? Is #Serbia merely an EU mining colony, sacrificing its environment so wealthy Europeans can drive oversized #electricvehicles? Or is the Serbian population the target of a Russian-led disinformation and hybrid warfare campaign designed to “manufacture fear” and hinder Serbia’s EU aspirations? This is a story of intimidation, confusion, and distrust, where facts struggle against alleged fake news, conspiracy theories, and deep-seated historical emotions. Brace yourself! 👉 How to join the avant-première? https://lnkd.in/eAsfkENd https://lnkd.in/ebzbmHMW 🎬 Featuring Ne Damo Jadar and other local citizens in the Jadar valley; University of Belgrade’s Jelena Vasiljevic; Rio Tinto chief executives & experts (Marijanti Babic, Chad Blewitt, Sinead Kaufman), ElevenEs’s CEO Nemanja Mikac, Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, T&E's Julia Poliscanova (she/her); anonymous Serbian political experts. Funding: SIM2 KU Leuven & KU Leuven 🎬 Film crew: Director: Stijn van Baarle (Storyrunner), Presenter: Peter Tom Jones (SIM2 KU Leuven), Cameramen: Michael Van De Velde & Jochen Maes; Sound technicians: Casimir De Kimpe, Jeroen De Vriese; Editor: Jasper Vander Elst: 🎬 Q&A: Journalists can contact Peter Tom Jones about the background and future plans for this documentary. 🎬 EIT RawMaterials, PROMETIA, BATTERY 2030+, International Lithium Association (ILiA) CIRAN (CrItical RAw materials extraction in enviroNmentally protected areas) Eurometaux (European Metals Association) Euromines IMA-Europe (Industrial Minerals Association - Europe) European Environment Agency European Environmental Bureau IRTC | International Round Table on Materials Criticality Marko Komac Vitor Correia Robert Pell Bernd Schäfer Vanessa Lorenz Ann Mettler Jocelyn Douheret Patrick d'Hugues Stéphane Bourg Grégoire Jean Antonio Neves Costa Zoran Jovanovic Vic Petrovich Bianca Schichtel-Seberkste Anton Gavrilov Michael Schmidt

The European Union is developing initiatives such as the Critical Raw Materials Act to ensure sustainable and affordable access to critical raw materials, while upholding environmental and social standards. However, domestic mining presents challenges as some deposits are situated within environmentally protected areas, necessitating a balanced approach between resource extraction and conservation efforts. This article delves into the public narratives surrounding mining projects in five European countries: Portugal, France, Slovakia, Italy, and the Czech Republic. The analysis unveils differing perspectives along two main divides: security of supply versus environmental protection. While policymakers stress the importance of increasing domestic mineral production to reduce import dependence, environmentalists and local communities voice concerns over the ecological impacts of mining. These narratives underscore a fear of change among local populations, driven by scepticism about prescribed solutions and a perceived disconnect between top-down directives and bottom-up concerns. The analysis highlights the necessity for inclusive policymaking, effective communication, and a nuanced approach that aligns the EU’s sustainability goals with the legitimate aspirations of local communities.   Read the full paper ‘Understanding the narratives in the public debate about mining in Europe’ by Vitor Correia, Luís Rosendo, and W. Eberhard Falck. It was published in issue 57 of the #EuropeanGeologist journal: https://lnkd.in/dUXZDwhF Thanks to the sponsors of the #57 issue of the European Geologist Journal: Rockware Incorporated, MiningiDEAS, Blastics Surface and Krantz. - - - International Raw Materials Observatory CIRAN (CrItical RAw materials extraction in enviroNmentally protected areas)

The governments who are introducing #supplychain #duediligence rules for companies are themselves major supply chain actors spending trillions of dollars in #publicprocurement. In our new OECD report “Responsible Business Due Diligence and Government Procurement” we run the numbers on the 52 governments that adhere to the OECDs standards on #responsiblebusinessconduct: ➡️ In 2021, these 52 governments spent more than USD 8.3 trillion on public procurement ➡️ Of this total spend, USD 6 trillion (or 73%) was by countries that now have some form of due diligence regulation applicable to public institutions – either through disclosure rules, mandatory due diligence, or product and market-based measures. ➡️ USD 3.4 trillion (41%) was spent by countries that have specific due diligence requirements for public institutions ➡️ USD 2.6 trillion (32%) was spent by countries that have general due diligence requirements, which also implicitly apply to public institutions. This implies that emerging due diligence regulation can play a significant role in aligning public spending with sustainability goals - and that governments are prepared to #leadbyexample. You can find the report here: https://lnkd.in/djhKCJYC Business and Finance at the OECD Thorfinnur Omarsson Lena Diesing Sarah Reso Barbara Bijelic Froukje Boele Carmine Di Noia Elsa Pilichowski Pauline Göthberg

The BLOOM project partners met yesterday for our official Kick-off meeting at Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya in Barcelona. We’re all very exited to start this interesting #HorizonEurope project funded by EU and are eager to collaborate on the successful contribution to CRM challenges Europe is facing!!! #CRM #criticalminerals #BLOOMproject Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya Inycom Commerce Resources Corp. HOLOSS Hudbay Minerals Inc. IDENER.AI International Raw Materials Observatory Cobre Las Cruces - First Quantum Minerals University of New Brunswick TAURUS INFINITY LLC Centre International d'Etude de Tantale et de Niobium - Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center