Epiroc is among the industry partners involved in a new Smart Exploration Research Centre for Critical Raw Materials that has been granted SEK 60mn (€5.13mn) funding for further research regarding metals and minerals that are innovation-critical to push forward the transition to green solutions. These metals and minerals are often rare, difficult to source, or cannot be purchased as they are found in areas of high conflict.
“We are very happy and proud to get the chance to share our expertise and also be able to embrace the expertise offered by others in the area of exploration of metals and minerals. We can work together to accelerate the green transition by securing the metals and minerals necessary to enable this change,” says Anders Persson, Epiroc’s Global Technology & Methods manager.
Professor Alireza Malehmir at Uppsala University will lead the project with Lund University, Stockholm University and Gothenburg University scientists. In addition, several companies from the mining and exploration industry will participate. The list of companies includes Epiroc, Nordic Iron Ore, First Quantum Minerals, Tyréns, Smarkand2015, BitSimNow, Eurobattery Minerals and Amkvo. The project is expected to last six years and commence in January 2024.
“For Sweden, The Nordics, Europe and the rest of the world, it is important that we have a long-term strategy to secure the supply of metals required, for example, to meet the current and future demand for batteries. As part of the project, we have experts representing the whole process — from exploration to securing and developing metal deposits. Academia will contribute with their areas of expertise, whilst those of us based directly in the industry will offer our combined knowledge. Both sides are necessary to reach our goals. Together, we will accelerate the technical transformation for the future,” says Persson.
The Smart Exploration Research Centre for Critical Raw Materials is a consortium of experts in geosciences, nanotechnology, data analytics, engineering, drones and robotic solutions, and drilling technology.
