ProMine was a four years long EC project in the area of exploration and efficient use of mineral resources within Europe. The main objective of ProMine was to develop innovative concepts and processes for strategic mineral supply and for new high added value mineral-based products. Its consortium covered the entire supply chain from extraction and raw materials manufacturing to mineral products manufacturing and by-product materials utilization. ProMine focused on two parts of the production chain by targeting extractive and end-user industries.

Upstream, the first ever Pan-EU GIS based mineral resource and advanced modeling system for the extractive industry was created, showing known and predicted, metallic and non-metallic mineral occurrences across the EU. Detailed 4D computer models were produced for four metalliferous regions. Upstream work also included demonstrating the reliability of new (Bio) technologies for an eco-efficient production of strategic metals, driven by the creation of on-site added value and the identification of specific needs of potential end-users.

Downstream, a new strategy was developed for the European extractive industry which looks not only at increasing production but also at delivering high value, tailored nano-products which will form the new raw materials for the manufacturing industry.

ProMine research focused on metal products partly in nano-scale: these products have a major impact on the economic viability of the extractive industry. They were tested at bench scale, and a number selected for development to pilot scale where larger samples could be provided for characterization and testing by end-user industries.

Central to the themes of ProMine, and in accordance with the cradle to cradle approach, is the holistic concept that all solid and liquid materials at an exploitation site are potential useful resources, even those traditionally considered as waste. This means that the way a site is exploited becomes environmentally more sustainable, new uses and products can be found for minerals leading to increased profitability, and the dissolved metal emissions and final waste burden will be reduced.

Targets and Aims

EU is currently heavily dependent on mineral and metal imports and the trade balance in the field is negative. For some strategic metals, EU is totally dependent on import. The efficiency of the overall production chain of minerals and metals in Europe should be enhanced by putting higher quality and added value products on the market. The philosophy behind ProMine is to stimulate the extractive industry to deliver new products to manufacturing industry. The project involves industry key players covering the entire supply chain.

Partners

The ProMine consortium was led by Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) and included 27 partners from 11 EU member states. Industry partners in the ProMine consortium produced, at the time the project was active, more than 70% of metals in the EU, so implementation of results from the project translated into direct and significant economic benefits.

The project was recognized as the top performer among all initiatives launched under the EU Framework Programmes in the field of Industrial Technologies. The award ceremony took place on 10 April at the Industrial Technologies 2014 conference in Athens.