GAIA joined the 9th MINEX Europe Forum

GAIA was pleased to join the 9th MINEX Europe Mining & Exploration Forum, held on 21–22 October 2025 in Lisbon, an event that brought together more than 200 industry professionals, policymakers, researchers, and investors. Under the theme “Made in Europe: Securing Critical Raw Materials for a Sustainable Future,” the forum addressed some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities shaping Europe’s mineral sector. Participants now have access to conference materials and may order additional resources through the MINEX Europe platform.

This year’s forum explored an extensive range of strategic topics. Experts examined how Europe can responsibly develop domestic mineral resources while minimizing environmental and social impacts. Another major theme centered on the stability of lithium and battery material supply chains—especially following the collapse of Northvolt, which raised significant concerns about the resilience of Europe’s battery industry. Speakers drew attention to the EU’s growing dependence on foreign sources for critical materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, while presenting an overview of one of Europe’s most promising lithium deposits and the challenges of scaling up sustainable mining operations.

A key message throughout the forum was the urgent need to secure raw materials from both primary and secondary sources. Europe must drastically increase domestic production of non-ferrous and energy metals by 2030, including opening at least 10 new mines, 15 processing facilities, and 15 recycling plants, while also supporting critical raw material projects abroad through the Global Gateway initiative. Alongside supply challenges, the event highlighted advancements in sustainable decarbonisation—such as energy-efficient extraction technologies, carbon reduction strategies, water conservation measures, and the integration of renewable energy into mining operations—showing that it is possible to balance industrial competitiveness with environmental responsibility.

Regulation was another central point of discussion, as industry representatives and policymakers addressed the need for more pragmatic frameworks that support Europe’s strategic autonomy. The upcoming 2025 revision of the REACH Regulation was identified as a major milestone, given its strict requirements for demonstrating safety and managing risks associated with substances placed on the EU market. Participants stressed the importance of designing regulations that ensure health and environmental protection while supporting the viability of critical raw material projects.

Throughout the forum, GAIA engaged with numerous stakeholders, exchanging insights on exploration opportunities, sustainability challenges, and avenues for future collaboration. These conversations provided valuable perspectives on Europe’s evolving resource landscape and helped strengthen GAIA’s network within the mineral and mining community.