Brussels places the purple carpet to strategic mining | Business | EUROtoday

“I am a miner … and I tempered my heart with Pico and Barrena …” Mining has modified for the reason that loud refrain of the well-known tune by Antonio Molina was popularized. Rare earths in the present day focus the geopolitical debate and Europe seeks important minerals to mitigate their dependence on companions that generate extra uncertainties than certainties. In its eagerness to provide a brand new impulse to the extractive trade, it has endowed with a particular regulation to speed up 47 strategic tasks, seven of them on Spanish soil: three in Extremadura, two in Andalusia, one in Galicia and one final in Castilla -La Mancha. 15 Spanish initiatives had been offered, however eight stayed on the highway.

The aim? Diversify sources prioritizing the European subsoil and guaranteeing entry to those supplies to the protection trade and different key sectors. To this finish, a regulation was authorised a yr in the past to this Focused on the agile acquiring of uncommon earths and different parts equivalent to lithium, cobalt, nickel, silicon or wolframio, but in addition tungsten, graphite and copper. “After the COVID, the Ukraine War and with the new international order we have, Europe has proven that it is vulnerable in the supply of certain raw and mineral matters and that there is a delicate dependence on other large countries. With the regulation a minimum internal supply is guaranteed,” says Juan Torres, Public Law Partner of ARPA Consultores.

“It is not a rule that allows to reopen mines, but is committed to certain strategic projects that contribute to the security and continuity of the supply of these raw materials and those that recognize a series of advantages or prerogatives for its development and exploitation,” says Jorge Botella, Cuatrecasas advisor. Among them, entry to preferential financing – though there’s nonetheless a must specify it – and fewer forms within the authorization of the tasks, with most deadlines of 27 months. The distinctive administration factors with the administration are additionally promoted and the Member States to develop nationwide applications to discover these assets are invited. It will imply “an injection of trust” for the mining sector, which may very well be reactivated after a transparent lower for the reason that 80s, when the closure of the coal mines started, additionally influenced by the dearth of social acceptance and the environmental calls for, the lawyer underlines.

To get pleasure from these benefits, necessities should be met: they have to reinforce the European provide, be technically viable and producers should get pleasure from a excessive degree of belief. Sustainability and environmental impression are additionally valued with excessive ensures, minimization of social results, transparency and everlasting contact on the native degree and civil society, along with accredited compensation measures.

The authorized framework in Spain can also be ample. “There is a 1973 state law of mines and a 1978 mining regulation that establish the basic standards applicable to farms. These have been developed by many technical and security provisions. The state and autonomic norms on environmental impact assessment and those that regulate the authorizations, in addition to those for the use and protection of water resources, are the main ones to take into account,” recollects Jesús Sedano, a accomplice of the general public division, a accomplice. Menéndez. But there’s uncertainty concerning the effectiveness of European regulation: choices are nonetheless within the arms of every Member State. In Spain, the competitors is of the autonomous communities, to which the municipalities and the hydrographic confederations are added, the latter dependents of the central administration of the State. Without city or exercise licenses, it’s unattainable to develop tasks. “Therefore, a first doubt arises: if it is the same agencies that must approve or not these initiatives, what has changed for those cases in which these agencies have already stated not to be willing to support a project?” Questiones Ignacio Pérez Cordero, director of the damping Pérez Cordero and Pérez Morales, specialised on this sector, who believes that the mentality of “in my patio will persist.”

Evolution

Although there are advances, zero threat doesn’t exist and the current demise of 5 staff within the Asturian mine of Cerredo recollects that the work of the miners may be merciless. However, the panorama in the present day could be very completely different, however specialists imagine there’s a generalized ignorance. “Technology and mining activity have evolved significantly, which allows to implement more sustainable farms and subject to strict environmental conditions,” explains Jesús Sedano.

However, European regulation to advertise uncommon earth extraction doesn’t translate into a discount in calls for. “That the procedures must be processed with greater speed does not exempt mining projects from compliance with environmental norms,” ​​emphasizes Uría’s lawyer Menéndez. Jorge Botella confirms: “It is true that some exceptions and flexibilities have been established for the development of strategic projects, such as the reduction of processing deadlines, subsidies and incentives, but always with full respect for the norms of sustainability and environmental protection.”

With the European regulation, a minimum of on paper is responded, to the streamlining of authorizations, which may be excessively extended. “We are talking about eight or ten years to approve a project. The first stumbling block is the administrative route, but also generate social interest and there are allegations. Many projects are dedicated to judicial resources,” says lawyer Juan Torres. Now we have to see if these 27 months will actually be fulfilled to search out the coveted uncommon earths.