Interview on Euronews TV about Critical Raw Materials
Tirana, 11.1.2025
Prof. Përparim Alikaj, Senior Expert on Mineral Raw Materials at the Regional Innovation Center, was invited at “Balkan Talks” program on Euronews to discuss on the importance of critical mineral raw materials, their economic potential, and their use in emerging industries.
Critical mineral raw materials are very important for the economy of a country and that of Europe, but they are not always available at the necessary levels for exploitation. In our country, these minerals include copper, iron-nickel and cobalt, polymetallic minerals such as zinc and lead, platinum group minerals, rare earth minerals, gold, silver, magnesium, phosphates, and bauxites.
Some of these minerals are crucial for strategic technologies, such as the production of digital devices like computers, phones, batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines for generating clean energy. This is also why their economic importance has increased, as well as the cost of extraction and processing of these minerals. Some of them are used in aerospace vehicles like airplanes, rockets, and in the defense sector for military equipment.
The use of these raw materials in these strategic sectors makes them vital for the green and digital transitions that will determine our future on this planet.
As long as we talk about electric cars for minimizing the greenhouse effect and climate change, we must also talk about lithium and other materials like copper, cobalt, magnesium, and graphite, which are part of the electric vehicle complex.
Europe will not be able to meet its demand for these minerals, and therefore, it must diversify its supply chains by investing in technologies to stimulate the growth of extraction and processing capacities to ensure access to critical raw materials.
Since 1990, Albania has not invested in opening new mines, while foreign investors’ interest in exploration in this sector has been declining. This trend raises the question: What strategic steps should we take to revive the mining industry and turn it into a pillar of sustainable economic development?
- Improving the legal framework and attracting new investments:
- The mining law must be adapted to be more attractive to foreign investors, meeting the standards and requirements of Europe for critical minerals.
- Investing in the exploration of new minerals:
- It is not enough to exploit existing minerals; a proactive approach is needed to explore new minerals. An important step would be to conduct an airborne geophysical study to have a complete view of all types of minerals in Albania.
The Munella area is a very good opportunity for copper mining. Albania also has potential for iron-nickel and other minerals that are very valuable for the country’s economy.
The opening of the Regional Innovation Center of the European Institute of Technology and Innovation for Raw Materials (EIT RawMaterials Regional Innovation Center) (RIC Albania) is an important initiative of the Albanian Government to prioritize the mining industry sector. The center serves as a connecting link between Europe and the region, focusing on strategic projects, sector development, the introduction of new technologies, promoting scientific research, increasing capacities, and encouraging innovation in the raw materials sector. It also aims to strengthen the extractive and processing industries with the goal of increasing the supply of raw materials from Albania to the EU.
The mining industry has the potential to become a powerful catalyst for economic growth, stimulating sustainable development and creating new opportunities for the country!