Alliances

The power of cooperation

Digi-Raw: The Magnificent seven of the future of mining

Both efficiency and effectiveness lie in collaboration. The best way forward is when we unite and work together. That is exactly the reason why seven European Commission-funded projects in the field of mining (MASTERMINE, DigiEcoQuarry, illuMINEation, SUMEX, ROBOMINERS, Dig_IT, and Rotate) have assembled Digi-Raw, a compelling cluster formed to expand the impact of their work, streamline research, spark innovation, and build enduring partnerships.

Goals

Collaborative knowledge hub with shared objectives
Robust networks for enduring collaborations
Efficient research through insight exchange
Wider project findings dissemination
Innovative, sustainable solutions

MASTERMINE aspires to become the go-to ecosystem for mines that envision digitalisation, environmental sustainability, productivity monitoring, and public acceptance within their strategic goals. The focus will be on an Industrial Metaverse (ΙΜ) approach to build a digitalized copy of a real-world mine.

The project will demonstrate its applicability in 4 EU demo cases and one replication demo in South Africa. Our mining partners offer access to a total of 10 mines around Europe, producing 10 different raw materials, including 4 CRMs (Cobalt, Coking Coal, Phosphate Rock, and Platinum).

ROTATE is a Horizon Europe-funded project that aims to provide environmental solutions that will contribute to facilitating the generation of synergies between diverse industrial sectors related to mining and quarrying. ROTATE goals are the following: to boost efficiency in extractive sites, enhance circularity and waste valorization, develop sustainable processes along the mining and quarrying productive chain, and improve social awareness about the importance of this strategic sector and its commitment to sustainability. In fulfilling these goals, ROTATE also seeks to ensure a sustainable supply of critical raw materials crucial for the EU industry.

Raw materials are of strategic importance for the European economy in key value chains such as the green energy transition, where Europe should strengthen its resilience, independence, and competitiveness. However, European mining operations do not meet the demand today, due to low productivity, unsustainable waste management, resource-intensity and the consequent environmental impacts. To meet the ever-increasing demand for raw materials and reduce negative market prospects, while mitigating the environmental and societal impacts, the mining industry needs a drastic transformation.

In this context, DINAMINE aims to demonstrate a holistic mine management approach, based on:

· smart data analytics tools for real-time mine-to-port monitoring of the risks, performance, environmental footprint, maintenance needs, productivity and recovery rates,

· machine automation and robotization strategies to enhance safety and productivity,

· on-site studies to identify best practices for carbon neutral logistics/transportation, more energy-efficient processing, and waste/tailings handling and valorization.

The project further aims to develop tools that enable a more selective and more sustainable mining industry, with a specific focus on European SMEs. Technologies developed will be upscaled and tested, and studies performed in two small-medium scale European mining operations: one open-pit feldspar mine (Portugal), and one underground graphite mine (Norway) and their associated processing plants.

DIGIECOQUARRY is a H2020 Project addressing the topic C5-10-2019-2020, which will exploit the aggregates industry´s great potential for change and development through a coordinated approach towards construction materials management with the final goal of reducing EU external supply dependency as well as leading an efficient use of resources. The project will develop systems, technology, and processes for integrated digitization and automation and a real-time process control to be tested in 5 EU quarries. DEQ will also develop an innovative Intelligent Quarrying System that will increase the sustainable supply of minerals for the construction sector as well as enable the sustainable extraction of EU´s mineral resources in existing and new quarries.

SCIMIN-CRM aims to reduce Europe’s dependence on raw materials (RMs) by leveraging the untapped potential of over 100,000 mining and waste facilities (MWFs). The project focuses on critical and non-critical RMs, including fluorspar, baryte, rare earth elements (REEs), bauxite/aluminum, and other valuable materials such as copper and aggregates.

SCIMIN-CRM focuses on developing a «fast-path» process, supported by advanced technologies such as a collaborative digital platform for CRM assessment, mobile crushing technologies, and innovative processing methodologies. These advancements will increase valorization rates from near 0% to 5% and assessment time by 83%.

The project’s efforts encompassing several countries like Spain, Sweden, Austria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, contributing to the aims of the CRM Act. By 2030, the new sustainable processes developed by SCIMIN-CRM aim to become the standard for MWF assessment, promoting market adoption, enhancing social acceptance, and fostering industry collaboration.

As global demand for critical raw materials surges, conventional mining practices pose significant environmental and socio-economic challenges. These include ecological degradation, resource depletion and social conflicts in mining regions. Moreover, existing methods lack efficiency and transparency, hindering the sustainable management of mineral resources. To address these pressing concerns, the EU-funded TERRAVISION project emerges as a pioneering initiative poised to revolutionise the mining industry through innovative Earth observation technologies and sustainable practices. TERRAVISION’s effectiveness will be demonstrated in Greece, Spain and beyond, with validation campaigns at six mining sites. With targeted dissemination and replication activities, TERRAVISION aims for significant EU-wide impact, paving the way for sustainable mining practices.

Alliances

The power of cooperation

CRMs4EU

Industrial Production of mixed Rare Earth Elements oxides and carbonates from spent magnets recycling

The overall objective of the “close to the market” LIFE INSPIREE project is to realize the first industrial-scale plant in Europe for the recycling of REEs from spent NdFeB magnets (Hard Drives (HDD) and End-Of-Life electric motors). INSPIREE will build on the results achieved at pilot scale of previous EU funded project (EITRM-NEWRE, H2020-FENIX and FP7-HydroWEEE). The hydrometallurgical process has been patented by one of the partners (WO/2019/215583A1) and this strategic know-how was transferred to Itelyum during the previous research-pilot phase.

NEW-RE will tackle the recycling challenge of Neodymium permanent magnets (PMs) and of spent lamps contained in electronic waste and e-mobility electric motors. The target is to recycle rare earth elements (REEs) by scaling up a hydrometallurgical process that will produce REEs oxides and iron pigment. Considering the time-consuming activities of dismantling the magnets, an innovative solution for the automatic dismantling of PMs will be developed and its sustainability assessed with LCA/LCC.

The REEPRODUCE’s ambition is to set up the first sustainable and complete European REEs-recycling value chain at industrial scale, able to produce REEs from EoL products at competitive cost and with environmentally friendly technologies. Achieving this goal will secure an important and strategic value chain for Europe’s green transition

REEsilience project aims to build a more resilient and sustainable supply chain for rare earth magnetic materials and products in Europe and will create new market opportunities for critical raw materials more sustainably produced in the continent.

Resilient Enhancement for the Silicon Industry Leveraging the European matrix is a Horizon Europe project that has the main aim of improving the resilience and sustainability of critical raw material value chain in Europe. In order to reach this result, the project aims at demonstrating 8 industry-driven technological and business innovative solutions covering the full Silicon value chain.

The DINAMINE project aims to radically transform and modernize the mining operation value chain. DINAMINE will demonstrate a smart and integrated mine management approach, relying on data analytics tools for real-time mine-to-port monitoring of the performance, risks, mine productivity and recovery rates, and new technologies for machine automation and robotisation. DINAMINE will also identify best practices for carbon-neutral logistics and transportation, more energy-efficient processing, and handling and reuse of mining waste

Magnets in rEsiLient supply chAiNs

MAGELLAN brings together renowned experts from industry, research and academia to revolutionise the way Europe recycles and manufactures rare earth permanent magnets (PMs) used in electric vehicle traction motors (EVTMs). The project will produce high performance magnets with 25% in mass of recycled materials by reprocessing end-of-life magnets sourced from EVTMs, e-scooters and e-bikes. It will also design advanced near-net-shape magnets by using the PIM process to decrease material losses during manufacturing process. In addition, the design of the rotors of electric motors will be optimised for efficient dismantling and increased reuse of magnets. Finally, the project will demonstrate the sustainability and business benefits of the solution. MAGELLAN will ultimately kickstart the development of a new sustainable and circular value chain for permanent magnets in Europe, thus contributing to a greener and more self-sufficient Europe.

Past projects

Secure European Critical Rare Earth Elements

The main goal of SecREEts (Secure European Critical Rare Earth Elements) is to establish a stable and secure supply of critical rare earth elements based on a sustainable extraction from European apatite sources used in fertiliser production. The project ended with very good news for the first step towards RE separation in Europe announcing the building of the first industrial plant based on the efforts of the project partners. All the industrial pilots have been successfully demonstrated to yield quality products suitable for a European value chain, including the verification of high quality magnets based on the project processes..

Sustainable Recovery, Reprocessing and Reuse of Rare Earth Magnets in a European Circular Economy

SUSMAGPRO aimed to develop a recycling supply chain for rare earth magnets in Europe and to demonstrate the effective reuse of recycled rare earth material within several industries. Towards the end of the project, SUSMAGPRO partners have achieved a breakthrough: magnets produced from secondary material were tested in rotors with very promising results. Through this contribution, partners help to lessen the carbon footprint of a resource that’s vital to both electric mobility and wind power, while still delivering powerful electric performance.

The SALEMA project is a combined strategy of decreasing the critical raw material dependency (from magnesium and silicon) and creating a sustainable economy in the aluminium manufacturing industry of Europe. The electric automotive sector needs high-performance, sustainable aluminium sources, that is only possible by the generation of a new aluminium ecosystem.

Dig_IT is a Horizon 2020 funded project that will address the needs of the mining industry to move forward towards a sustainable use of resources while keeping people and environment at the forefront of their priorities. In order to achieve its objective, Dig_IT proposes the development of a smart Industrial Internet of Things platform (IIoTp) that will improve the efficiency, safety and sustainability of mining operations by connecting cyber and physical systems. The platform will collect data from sensors at 3 levels: (i) human, (ii) assets, (iii) environment and will also incorporate both real time and historical market data.

ROBOMINERS is a project funded under the European Union’s Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020 (grant agreement n°820971). This Project is developing a bio-inspired, modular and reconfigurable robot-miner for small and difficult to access deposits. The aim is to create a prototype robot that is capable of mining underground which will facilitate EU access to mineral raw materials including those that are considered as strategic or critical for the energy transition.

ROBOMINERS’ innovative approach combines the creation of a new mining ecosystem with novel ideas from other sectors, with the inclusion of disruptive concepts from robotics. The robot miner will especially be relevant for mineral deposits that are small or difficult to access. This covers both abandoned, nowadays flooded mines, that are not accessible anymore for conventional mining techniques, or places that have formerly been explored but whose exploitation was considered as uneconomic due to the small size of the deposits or the difficulty to access them.

Europe urgently needs to reduce its import dependency in respect to a multitude of raw materials. To do so, Europe’s mining industry must completely redesign the process of traditional mining via the adoption of pioneering innovations, accompanied by extensive use of data analytics and new types of industrial IoT (IIoT). The EU-funded illuMINEation project will highlight significant aspects of digitalisation in underground mining activities to achieve the highest possible levels of safety, and environmental and economic performance. The project will establish a robust multi-level distributed IIoT platform based on extensive sensor networks featuring wireless communication capabilities. Advanced user interfaces, dashboards, and AR/VR applications will allow for an optimized information flow. A rigorous cybersecurity approach will ensure that all data is properly protected.

SUMEX is a H2020 Horizon project. The project supports the set-up of a European sustainability framework to improve the permitting procedure along the extractive value chain (prospecting, exploration, extraction, processing, closure, post-closure activities), to guarantee timely decisions, a transparent governmental regulatory regime, appealing financial and administrative conditions and sustainable natural environmental and social conditions. The main mission of SUMEX is to assist policymakers and other stakeholders in seizing this opportunity. To foster more, but sustainable mineral production in the EU, SUMEX will establish a sustainability framework for the extractive industry in Europe. It does so by considering the Sustainable Development Goals, the European Green Deal, as well as EU Social License to Operate considerations and will involve stakeholders from industry, government, academia and civil society backgrounds from all across the EU.