On 16 March 2023 the EC published the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) setting “benchmarks along the strategic raw materials value chain and for the diversification of EU supplies”. By targeting the domestic processing and refining of lithium – arguably “the most strategic CRM”– LITHOS directly contributes to the 1st and 2nd CRMA benchmarks (10% domestic extraction; 40% domestic processing). LITHOS processes and refines the ores from three “Strategic Projects” in terms of domestic battery-grade LiOH·H2O production: two spodumene-bearing pegmatite cases (Keliber’s deposits in the Kaustinen region, Finland; Savannah’s Barroso Lithium Project, Portugal) and one Rare-Metal Granite (RMG) case (Imerys’ Beauvoir mine in France). LITHOS expands and tailors the existing Keliber & M:O flowsheet, which was developed for regular-grade spodumene ores, so that (1) the cut-off grade for spodumene ores is reduced, resulting in larger Li reserves, while (2) allowing the commercialisation of lower-grade pegmatite and RMG deposits. LITHOS triggers innovations along the value chain – mineral processing, concentrate pre-treatment & hydrometallurgical refining – making it possible to deal with different levels and types of impurities in non-spodumene Li minerals (lepidolite & petalite). LITHOS gives specific attention to closed-loop water systems in the mineral processing (KPI: 90% less water consumption). The overall CO2 emissions of the LITHOS flowsheet will be 50% lower than today’s benchmark (production of spodumene concentrate in Australia & refining in China). This work is enriched by bespoke thermodynamic modelling and digital twins. Supported by FMG & Euromines, LITHOS intends to replicate the LITHOS “responsible mining and refining” concept to the other 24 identified Li-hard-rock deposits in Europe. LITHOS’s meta-objective is to unleash Europe’s full Li-hard-rock ore potential (total: 8.8 Mt Li2O) so as to become self-sufficient by 2030–35 in terms of made-in-Europe LiOH·H2O.

The GoldenRAM (G-RAM) project will provide easy exchange of accurate information on Raw Materials in the European Union and partnering resource-rich countries for organisations engaged in the mining industry and public stakeholders. The project will develop an Earth Observation Platform (G-RAM platform) leveraging novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) Natural Language processing in combination with advanced, proprietary Artificial Intelligence Knowledge Packs (AIKPs) which simplify complex computation workflows and provide seamless access to a unique and validated combination of geological and remote sensing data, domain expertise, and multipurpose mapping technologies for geological and mining industry stakeholders. Especially, the introduction of AIKPs plays an important role in advancing the TRL of state-of-the-art solutions and enabling their wider adoption among the industry and stakeholders. The G-RAM platform will be demonstrated in 6 field trials in Finland (2 sites), Sweden, Romania, Ukraine, and Portugal creating a compelling value proposition for implementation across the mining industry value chains and improving responsible and sustainable supply of CRMs: Co, Li, REE, P; PGMs Pd and Pt; as well as Cu and Ni to Europe. The project will increase the raw material investment potential for Ukraine by promoting exploitation prospects via the G-RAM platform therefore supporting implementation of the Roadmap for EU-Ukraine Strategic Partnership on raw materials. The consortium brings together interdisciplinary expertise fit to solve the challenges related to the building of large-scale ICT platforms, geologic and remote-sensing know-how, benchmarking, market analysis, business modelling and result dissemination, and will include 4 academic/research centres, 5 SMEs, and 4 end-users, supported by a strong External Advisory Board of experts in geosciences and mining.

Europe is 100% reliant on imports of Li for the Li-ion batteries that are central to decarbonising the energy and mobility sectors. Some fraction of our needs can come from recycling the batteries already in use, but realistically, primary supply will still have to cover 90% of the Li requirement. Paradoxically, Europe hosts 27 Li hard-rock (pegmatite & Rare-Metal Granite) deposits, representing vast lithium resources (8.8–21.7 Mt Li2O). However, the identified potential remains largely untouched, which is partly due to a reluctant attitude towards primary (Li) mining in Europe. Europeans are very enthusiastic about EVs, but rather less so about the necessary mining & refining of Li-bearing ores to realise them. By upscaling and integrating results from earlier projects, EXCEED’s 15 partners develop a new mining paradigm, i.e. zero-waste, multi-metal/mineral mining. This will be combined with sustainable mineral processing to provide us with additional critical raw materials (CRMs: rare earths, Nb, Ta, W, Be) and industrial minerals (quartz, feldspar and micas), coming from 4 lithium mines (as case studies) in Finland (Keliber), Portugal (Savannah), France (Imerys) and the UK (Imerys). The project adopts a mineral-centric, integrated methodology based on an innovative predictive and forensic geometallurgy, supported by enhanced in-line characterisation tools and the development of digital twins. EXCEED develops, upscales and demonstrates cost-effective, sustainable and responsible extraction routes for recovering CRMs and industrial minerals (the latter for use as low-carbon ceramics and cements), as by-products from the 4 Li-bearing hard-rock ores. EXCEED’s long-term impact includes the replication of the EXCEED solutions to the other 23 European pegmatite and Rare-Metal Granite deposits, thus boosting domestic CRM production (up to 21.7 Mt Li2O & 1.5 Mt of other CRMs), in a way that gains public support by respecting the environment and creating local jobs.