The webinar Africa ‘s role in CRM mining and refining ” co-organised by CICERO, LITHOS, ENICON, EXCEED, AVANTIS projects will take place online on 4th of June 2025.
The seminar will feature two insightful presentations from high level experts from Africa, Everjoy Muchefa Researcher & Process Engineer from University of Johannesburg and Professor Harmony Musiyarira, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
The presentations dedicated to critical aspects of the mining sector in Africa, provide insightful analysis. The first presentation offers a reflective examination of artisanal and small-scale mining of lithium-bearing minerals. It elucidates the current practices, socio-economic consequences, and regulatory framework governing this sector. The second presentation covers the broader prospects and challenges associated with sustainable mining practices in the region. It addresses environmental concerns, governance dilemmas, and the and the need for responsible resource management.
These sessions aim to foster a deeper understanding of Africa’s complex mining dynamics and stimulate dialogue on sustainable and inclusive mining pathways.
If you are interested, please register at the following link, until 2/6/2025: link registration.
The registered participants will receive an email with the Zoom link.
Join projects RESPECT and GR4FITE3 during EU Green Week 2025 for an insightful webinar exploring how graphite—an essential raw material for battery technologies—can drive Europe’s clean energy transition. This session will address the critical challenges of securing a resilient, sustainable, and competitive supply chain for graphite.
Through expert presentations and a high-level panel discussion, this workshop we will explore:
- Market trends, supply chain vulnerabilities, and regulatory frameworks.
- Cutting-edge innovations in graphite recycling and purification.
- How EU-funded projects like RESPECT and GR4FITE3 are fostering circular economy models and sustainability in battery manufacturing.
The webinar is co-organised by ENICON, EXCEED, CICERO, AVANTIS, LITHOS projects and will take place online on 29th of May 2025.
The seminar will prioritize international collaboration to foster global cooperation in CRM innovation and policy development. Two high level experts from USA – Prof. Z. Agioutantis (University of Kentucky) and Australia – Prof. G. Barakos (Curtin University) will emphasize the global perspective of CRM mining and research technologies.
If you are interested, please register at the following link, until 27/5/2025. Registered participants will receive an email with the Zoom link.
The ENICON (https://enicon-horizon.eu) Horizon Europe funded research project, organizes the 3rd Capacity Building Seminar, on the 28th of May 2025.
The Capacity Building Seminar will be conducted virtually via webinar and is open to all interested individuals. The primary target audience for the seminar comprises graduate and postgraduate students, as well as early-stage researchers, whose research interests align with ENICON’s objectives are cordially invited to participate.
The 3rd ENICON’s capacity building seminar features two exciting lectures. A lecture on ‘Recovery and purification strategies for nickel and cobalt from primary and secondary raw materials’ will be delivered by Dr. Brecht Dewulf (SOLVOMET R&I Centre) and a talk on “Valorisation of sulfidic mine tailings in construction materials” will be given by Dr. Natália Pires Martins (VITO).
If you are interested, please register at the following link, until 26/5/2025. Registered participants will receive an email with the zoom link.
Milos Island in Greece, holding one of the biggest geothermal fields in the world and famous for its rich deposits of perlite and bentonite, offers a unique convergence of investment opportunities. As both a historical mining hub and a leading touristic destination, the island of Milos is an ideal setting for a dissemination event focused on sustainable development within the framework of the LiCORNE project.
We welcome participation both in person and online.
Objective
The LiCORNE project aims to establish the first ever Li supply chain in Europe, increasing the European Li processing and refining capacity for producing battery-grade chemicals from ores, geothermal and continental brines, tailings and off-specification cathode materials (waste). Therefore, the event aims to bring together experts and stakeholders to discuss innovative approaches for the sustainable extraction of critical raw materials (CRMs) and how geothermal fields, such as those in Milos, can play a role in this process.
This dynamic environment makes Milos the perfect backdrop for fostering collaboration between the energy, mining, and environmental sectors.
Agenda
| 9:30-9:40 | 10’ | Introduction and greetings | |
| 9:40-10:10 | 30’ | LiCORNE overview | TEC |
| 10:10-10:40 | 30’ | Li Market overview | ADM |
| 10:40-11:10 | 30’ | EU policies and supporting mechanisms | PNO |
| 11:10-11:30 | 20’ | EMILI Project | IMERYS |
| 11:30-11:50 | 20’ | Pyrometallurgical transformation of primary mineral resources for the production of upgraded lithium solutions | NTUA |
| 11:50-12:10 | 20’ | Direct lithium extraction from spodumene concentrate via an ion-exchange process | VITO |
| 12:10-12:30 | 20’ | Electrochemical Desalination and its Potential in the Selective Extraction of Lithium from Geothermal Brines | KIT |
| 12:30-12:50 | 20’ | Recovery of Li from off spec cathode waste by molten salt chlorination | SINTEF |
| 12:50-13:10 | 20’ | Advanced electrodialysis approach for lithium recovery from geothermal resources | FRA |
| 13:10-14:00 | 50’ | Lunch break | |
| 14:00-14:30 | 30’ | Europe’s priorities | EIT |
| 14:30-15:00 | 30’ | Exploratory works for Li in Greece | EAGME |
| 15:00-15:30 | 30’ | Valorization of Milos geothermal fields: prospects and challenges | PPC Renewables |
| 15:30-16:00 | 30’ | Greek State, Geothermal Energy, and CRMs: A Support of Innovation and European CRM Independence | Ministry of Environment and Energy |
| 16:00-16:30 | 30’ | Miners and Local communities. A tug of war or a win-win situation | SME |
| 16:30-17:00 | 30’ | Social Responsibility | IMERYS |
| 17:00-17:30 | 30’ | Discussion – Closing – Coffee | ALL |
The 7th Circular Materials Conference in 2025 in Copenhagen is a major gathering of researchers, policy makers and industry representatives dedicated to driving sustainability implementing circular economy solutions, novel business models and optimizing resource efficiency, scheduled for October 15-16 2025, at the Technical University of Denmark.
The conference is organised by the Competence Centre of Recycling (CCR) at Chalmers University of Technology in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark and other Nordic research institutes, academia, and organizations from various industries. The conference offers a platform to rethink materials through the lens of emerging technologies and innovative partnerships, paving the way for a circular future.
Conference highlights for 2025
* EU Policies and their Role in Circular Transition
* Policy Implementation and Compliance
* Circular Materials Business Applications
* Collaboration for Circular Materials: Industry and Government Partnerships
* Nordic Partnerships for Circular Materials Collaboration
* Research and Innovation for Circular Materials
Call for abstracts. Abstract submission deadline: 15 April 2025
Key topics for abstract submission:
- Circular economy strategies
- Circular packaging
- EV battery recycling
- How to increase circularity of plastics?
- Material circularity and recycling of PV modules
- Metals & CRM from secondary resources
- Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
- Municipal solid waste incineration and fly ash
- Quantifying circular economy with LCA
© Circular Materials Conference official website
On 15th of January 2025, Horizon Europe initiatives LITHOS and CICERO bring together experts from both projects to share knowledge and discuss breakthroughs along the value chain – mineral processing of CRMs.
Key topics:
- 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
The target group of the webinar is graduate and postgraduate students as well as early-stage researchers.
Registrations are open by 14 January 2025.
Mark your calendars for 12 December 2024, when the third edition of the annual workshop of the Cluster Hub “Production of raw materials for batteries from European resources”.
The event will be hybrid. It will take place in Brussels, at Thon Hotel EU, Rue de la Loi 75, 1040. The number of seats is limited, and will be assigned on a first come first served policy. However, interested participants can attend online, upon registration with the LINK.
Batteries have been around for centuries, with successive technological advancements leading to major electrical leaps: from the early rise of telegraphs and telephones to the modern life ‘commodities’ such as consumer electronics, electric vehicles and healthcare.
Despite a policy context incentivising European stakeholders to build a climate-neutral society, this ambitious plan hinges on the electrification of two key industrial sectors – transport and energy – accounting together for 76 % of the EU’s GHG emissions. To meet the rising demand of batteries, Europe is looking for alternatives to reduce its dependency on battery imports and enhance its competitiveness in the global battery market. This push to re-industrialise Europe’s battery manufacturing is supported by technological advancements.
The Cluster Hub ‘Production of raw materials for batteries from European resources’ is organising the third edition of its annual workshop on 12 December 2024. With each edition, the hub plans to provide a comprehensive overview of the most promising technologies engaged in the production of raw materials for batteries, from raw materials mining to recycling.
Additional to the technical sessions which will present the most recent results from the member projects included in the EU-funded hub, the workshop will set off with an incursion across the European policy environment, introduced by representatives of the European Commission and BEPA.
Who is the event dedicated to?
Any stakeholder interested in the R&I context in the battery sector, whether a representative of industry, cross-sector activities, research community or a policy-maker, is welcome to participate. Each session presenting results will be concluded with a dedicated Q&A slot, where participating attendees are invited to address questions.
Beyond presenting the latest results accomplished by our member projects, the event plans to open the stage to challenging discussions, ultimately aiming to identify opportunities for value creation within the European battery sector.
Disclaimer
The event will be recorded (audio & video) and pictures will be taken. Should participants have any objections, these should be addressed to the organisers.
Registration
The event is hybrid. On site participation is limited to the conference room capacity. Seats are limited and allocated to the first 40 participants expressing interest.
Register for on site participation
The event can also be attended online, using Teams platform. Registration is mandatory.
Register here for online participation
📅 10 December 2024
⏰ 9 AM – 12:15 Brussels time
🔗 Register for the event here
How can the RESPECT project help bridge the gap between the ambitions of the Critical Raw Materials Act [CRMA] and the practical realities of creating a secure, sustainable, and circular European Li-ion battery manufacturing industry?
The event aims to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by the Circular Economy Regulation on Materials for the Li-ion battery sector and to discuss the innovative solutions developed by the RESPECT project for sustainable and efficient Li-ion battery recycling, with a focus on translating findings into policy recommendations and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
The RAWMINA Final Conference is an event focusing on the recovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRM) from mine waste within a circular economy framework. This two-day conference, held between 22 and 23 October, at the Casa de la Convalescència, Hospital Sant Pau in Barcelona, Spain, brings together leading researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and innovators to explore cutting-edge advancements in CRM recovery.
What to expect
- Tech Deep-dive Sessions
- Round Table Discussions
- Early Researchers’ Symposium
- Matchmaking Sessions & Funding Opportunities Workshops
- Clustering Sessions
This conference is a must-attend for anyone interested in groundbreaking CRM-recovery technologies, sustainable mining practices, or networking with key industry players.
Registrations are open until 8 October. Secure your spot now!
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