The government reopens the mines. The objective is to extract the “critical” raw materials necessary for the digital and green transition at home.
They range from silicon to cobalt, from lithium to titanium but also from neodymium to tantalum, passing through the more common nickel and copper.
The decision is part of the European Critical Raw Materials Act. The path first involves mapping and exploring existing and potential mines in order to weigh their treasures, then cross-referencing the data with the country’s needs and its supply chains.
In the meantime, the State guarantees simpler and quicker rules for authorization procedures: once the approval of the EU Commission has been obtained, there is talk of 10-18 months to start the works. The creation of a 1 billion sovereign fund is also expected.
Substantially abandoned over the last century in favor of more competitive foreign sites scattered between Africa and Latin America, the mining sector returns to being strategic for making the leap towards a world made of quantum computers, battery-powered cars and artificial intelligence.