Horizon Europe EXCEED

🎞️ "Not In My Country: Serbia's Lithium Dilemma", coming soon to theatres all over the world. A new SIM2 KU Leuven / STORYRUNNER documentary. Distributed by Journeyman Pictures. Watch the trailer here: https://lnkd.in/eQkFkZah The Serbian protests that have erupted against a Lithium mine needed to power Europe's EVs Is Serbia merely an EU mining colony, sacrificing its environment so wealthy Europeans can drive oversized electric vehicles? Or is the Serbian population the target of a hybrid Russian warfare campaign designed to hinder Serbia’s EU Membership aspirations? “Not In My Country” is a story about the massive protests in Serbia over the opening of what would be the largest #lithium mine in Europe. The mine will destroy nature and agriculture the demonstrators claim. Environmental scientist Peter Tom Jones is intrigued and travels to Serbia’s #Jadar Valley, where the underground mine would come. There, he discovers that Rio Tinto, one of the largest mining companies in the world, is under threat. This documentary is a story about local and national protests, about the metals we need to fight #climatechange, and about distrust and disinformation. 🎬 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), German MEP Hildegard Bentele, and anonymous Serbian political experts. While including footage from Dragana Djordjevic and several other Serbian opponents. PROMETIA BATTERY 2030+ International Lithium Association (ILiA) EIT RawMaterials KU Leuven Watch the trailer here: https://lnkd.in/eQkFkZah

Best wishes for the season from the International Lithium Association (ILiA)!  We wish to thank our members for their commitment and support in 2024. Your support has enabled the Association to reach new milestones and create value for the #lithium industry. ILiA now has 73 commercial members around the world who produced >80% of all lithium mined this year. New ESG goals were achieved with the ten principals of responsible mining and the Lithium Voice magazine was read by more people in more langugaes than ever before. As always, ILiA worked alongside its members to represent the industry, to promote ESG and sustainability awareness and to foster a wider understanding of lithium. We hope that you have the opportunity to recharge your batteries for 2025!

📣 Join the Capacity Building #Webinar 💻 organised by Horizon Europe LITHOS and CICERO Projects to know more about: ✅the production of #lithium hydroxide from alkaline leaching process of -#spodumene concentrate ✅ the role of #MSA and its use for the crystallization of #battery #metals ✅ the importance of #LCA in #mining and #metallurgical projects ✅ Methane sulfonic acid as a versatile and sustainable acid 🗓️ 15 January ⏱️ 9:00 - 13:00 CET Register before 14.01.2025: https://lnkd.in/eZjt36ay #batteries #circulareconomy #climateneutrality

📅 In 2024, the extended slump in #lithium prices on the back of lower than expected #EV demand growth led to a raft of cutbacks at operations tasked with meeting lithium’s future expansion requirements. This price environment, however, also primed the market for a series of mergers and acquisitions signalling belief in the long-term trajectory of the market from energy and commodity majors. “Lithium prices fell by 28.4% in 2024 as the promise of demand diversification outside China faltered in the crosshairs of macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.” - Adam Megginson, lithium price analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Read Benchmark Source's review of 2024 in lithium, looking at how low prices impacted supply and led to significant M&A activity as well as a look ahead to 2025. Link in comments.

"Not In My Country" to be distributed by Journeyman Pictures! https://lnkd.in/ess7JZ7b. Massive news given the global reach of this widely respected documentary distributor. “Not In My Country” is a story about the massive protests in Serbia over the opening of what would be the largest lithium mine in Europe. The mine will destroy nature and agriculture the demonstrators claim. Environmental scientist Peter Tom Jones is intrigued and travels to Serbia’s Jadar Valley, where the underground mine would come. There, he discovers that Rio Tinto, one of the largest mining companies in the world, is under threat. This documentary is a story about local and national protests, about the metals we need to fight climate change, and about distrust and disinformation. WATCH ON OUR WEBSITE: https://lnkd.in/ess7JZ7b 🎬 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), German MEP Hildegard Bentele, and anonymous Serbian political experts. 🎬 Funding: SIM2 KU Leuven & KU Leuven 🎬 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. 🎬 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) IRTC | International Round Table on Materials Criticality #criticalrawmaterialsact #mining #refining #slo #lfp #europeanunion https://lnkd.in/ess7JZ7b

“Europe should not allow a tiny but vocal minority of anti-mining activists to hijack the implementation of badly-needed (ESG-friendly) strategic CRM mining projects in Europe.” My main takeaway from last week's European EnerGreenDeal Conference in Egmont Palace in Brussels during the session "Battery manufacturing and critical raw materials: overcoming the challenges of building new industrial value chains”. During this panel with Bruno Tobback, Chad Blewitt, Ilka von Dalwigk and Alison Atkinson (moderated by David Rose), we discussed many topics along the mine-to-battery(-recycling) value chain. What stood our for me is the discussion about the growing contradiction between constructive #environmentalism and destructive anti-mining activism. It's a topic we will also bring in our upcoming documentaries "Not in my country" and "Europe's lithium paradox" (interview with Julia Poliscanova (she/her) of T&E). It's time we expose this! Constructive environmentalism is an evidence-based approach that pushes the mining, metals and EV industry to perform better in terms of ESG. A huge difference with "ideological, activist-environmentalism”, which we have come across so often during filming our documentaries. The latest example being the intimidation we received in Portugal when trying to interview the resistance movement to the #Barroso #lithium project. The “cancel culture” tendency to refuse to engage in a dialogue about the need for #energytransition metal mining is plainly ridiculous. Also nicely summarised in this metaphorical conversation between Socrates and an anti-mining activist: "while you rally against regulated, safe, and accountable mining projects in your own backyard, you tacitly endorse a far darker truth elsewhere?" Post Baran Umut Baycan: https://lnkd.in/eHGeFhw8 As shown in the figure in the comment section, these activists who basically oppose Europe's CRMA and the #CleanIndustrialDeal targets have become - de facto - allies of the populist, conservative Orban-like movements that reject climate and environmental targets all together. Something to consider! Peter Tom Jones, 17/12/2024, Leuven. 🎬 Watch the trailer of "Not in my country": https://lnkd.in/eSejNCFV [🎬 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), German MEP Hildegard Bentele, and anonymous Serbian political experts.] 📣 More background in this article in Chemistry World, Anthony King: https://lnkd.in/e4tnu8jC SIM2 KU Leuven PROMETIA BATTERY 2030+ Toni Eerola Kostas Komnitsas Patrick d'Hugues

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)

Fantastic to see how construction is advancing on Sibanye-Stillwater's lithium mine and refinery sites in Kokkola and Kaustinen, Finland. Well done to all who have contributed.

"From ore to road: the mineral race to electric mobility", the official Euronews report on the recent event in Brussels. Speakers of the panel discussion were: Julia Poliscanova (she/her) (T&E), Javier Felipe Andreu and James Watson (Eurometaux (European Metals Association)). In the Euronews report below you get to read their main takeaways. Following the panel discussion I was interviewed by Hannah Brown about the lithium paradox. You can watch my 13-minute interview here: https://lnkd.in/exvWuuwM Full Euronews report https://lnkd.in/eRVA8ve4 "Wake up Europe!" Interview My Euronews video clip about the #lithium paradox in Europe, the Rio Tinto Jadar project, the anti-mining opposition in Mina do Barroso in Portugal, the Critical Raw Materials Act and (the delay in announcing) the Strategic Projects, the superior lithium refining and recycling technology we have in Europe (cf. Umicore, Metso) and the need for Europe to wake up to avoid an irreversible decline. Monty Python and football analogies were never far away. I also had the chance to speak about our soon to be launched documentaries "Not in my country: Serbia's lithium dilemma" [watch the trailer here: https://lnkd.in/eqpKWhUn] and "Europe's lithium paradox". In the Q&A session I focused on the importance of complementing fact-based dialogues and reports with new formats that allow for reaching out to the general public in this post-truth, post-Western world. The venue for this interview by Hannah Brown was the Euronews / European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) event "From Ore to Road: The Mineral Race to Electric Mobility" (📅 Thursday, December 5, 2024 - Place du Luxembourg 26, Brussels). Full recording of event is here: https://lnkd.in/eh7QWGFW

Ouvrir une mine de #lithium en France ❓ C'est une option. Mais avant, un débat public ❗ 🔋 Dans l’Allier, Imerys projette d’ouvrir une mine et des installations industrielles pour exploiter un gisement de lithium qui permettrait de fournir de quoi produire l’équivalent de 700 000 #batteries de voitures électriques chaque année. 📌 Le projet s’inscrit dans un contexte de mesures récentes en Europe (CRM Act, interdiction de la vente de véhicules thermiques neufs à partir de 2035) et en France (Plan France 2030, Stratégie Nationale Bas Carbone) visant à décarboner les transports et maîtriser les ressources minérales dans un contexte de dépendance aux approvisionnements étrangers. 📄 Compte tenu de la nouveauté de ce projet et de ses potentiels impacts environnementaux et socio-économiques, la Commission nationale du débat public (CNDP) a organisé un débat public cet été dont le compte rendu est disponible sur leur site : https://lnkd.in/em6Mysd6 ➡️ Sur la forme, un débat qui a mobilisé largement : 🔸 Autour d’une quarantaine d’événements organisés, ce sont plus de 3500 participants, 500 articles de presse, 33 000 vues cumulées sur 23 vidéos publiées. 🔸 Des questions ont pu être posées sur le contour technique du projet et sur la gestion des impacts environnementaux et sociaux auxquelles les parties prenantes concernées ont donné des éléments de réponses. 🔸 Le débat a aussi soulevé des réflexions sur le modèle global de transition et sur les choix stratégiques engagés par l’État et l’Europe face à la concurrence mondiale. ➡️ Sur le fond, des sujets débattus : 🔸 Les limites spatiales et géographiques du projet (profondeur et durée d’extraction); 🔸 L’aménagement et l’insertion territoriale de l’usine; 🔸 La régénération de la ligne ferroviaire Gannat à Montluçon; 🔸 La gestion des impacts environnementaux du projet (bilan carbone, gestion des déchets et des résidus, consommation d’eau, impacts potentiels sur la biodiversité). ➡️ En conclusion, des recommandations : 🔸 à Imerys. Apporter des compléments à certains points techniques et environnementaux du projet. Clarifier les modalités d’implications des parties prenantes. Maximiser l’ancrage local du projet. 🔸 à la SNCF Réseau. Rendre public l’avancement technique et financier du projet de régénération de la ligne ferroviaire associée. 🔸 à l’Etat. Ouvrir un débat sur sa stratégie d’approvisionnement en #métaux et minerais critiques, sur les activités minières et sur les trajectoires en matière de mobilités. ➡️ Et pour la suite ? Le compte-rendu ne prend pas parti. Il restitue l’ensemble des arguments, avis et positions exprimés par les publics. Les décideurs ont l’obligation de répondre sous trois mois à toutes ces propositions, et d’indiquer lesquelles ils retiennent ou non, et pourquoi. Cette réponse clôt la phase de débat public, mais pas la participation du public ! Photo: Modélisation 3D du projet