The legislative framework for
reopening mines containing strategic raw materials will be in
place by the end of 2023, Business and Made in Italy Minister
Adolfo Urso said on Thursday.
"I think that by the end of the year the full picture (on the
extraction and processing of critical raw materials in Europe,
ed.) will be clear: European regulations, Italian regulations
and the potential of our territory. At that point, companies
will be able to present their projects," said Urso on the
sidelines of the presentation of a new think tank on European
issues at LUISS university in Rome.
Italy has 16 of the 34 raw materials indicated by the European
Union (EU) as being critical but they are to be found in mines
that have been closed for decades, explained the minister.
"The European Union has defined 34 critical raw materials, 16 of
which are also considered strategic for their relevance in the
ecological and digital transition," said Urso.
They are "destined for (use in) aerospace and defence, the
production of electric batteries and solar panels, but (are)
also important (in order to close) the gap between global supply
and expected demand," he continued.
Italy, said the minister, "possesses 16 of these 34 indicated
critical raw materials", but these "are found in mines that were
closed 30 years ago".
"It is necessary to invest and reactivate this potential by
reopening the mines," he added.
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