EGU25-18711, updated on 15 Mar 2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18711
EGU General Assembly 2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Invisible Mining: A Novel Approach to Addressing EU Critical Raw Materials Challenges
Marko Komac, Vitor Correia, and Eberhard Falck
Marko Komac et al.
  • International Raw Materials Observatory, Belgium (mkomac@intraw.eu)

Overview/Background

The European Union faces significant challenges in securing critical raw materials (CRM) while balancing environmental protection, public acceptance, and technological innovation. This research examines how innovative "invisible mining" approaches, enabled by advances in robotics and miniaturisation, could help resolve conflicts between mineral extraction needs and environmental preservation goals, particularly in the context of the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This paper addresses the growing tension between increased raw material demand for green technologies and the EU's stringent environmental protection mandates.

 

Methods

We analysed the intersection of technological innovation, policy frameworks, and social acceptance through a comprehensive review of EU-funded research projects in mining automation and robotics. We evaluated six major research initiatives from 2011-2026, examining their technological developments and potential applications. The analysis incorporates findings from case studies of mining operations in environmentally sensitive areas and assesses the viability of emerging business models in the mining sector. Special attention was given to projects developing autonomous robotic systems for underground operations and advanced sensing technologies for precise mineral extraction.

 

Results

The research identifies four key transformative elements for successful implementation of invisible mining: (1) technological advances in robotics and miniaturisation enabling precise, low-impact extraction through smaller diameter galleries and reduced waste rock production; (2) comprehensive and integrated resource recovery principles maximising resource efficiency while minimising environmental disturbance; (3) materials-as-a-service business models creating circular resource loops and transforming mining companies from mere extractors to long-term material stewards; and (4) development of new workforce competencies in advanced cognitive domains such as robotics, data science, and environmental management. The analysis reveals that more than 80% of CRM deposits in Europe are located near or within environmentally protected areas, highlighting the urgent need for innovative extraction approaches. Additionally, the study demonstrates how autonomous mining systems can operate in narrow drifts without human presence, eliminating the need for extensive ventilation and drainage systems.

 

Conclusions

The findings demonstrate that invisible mining, characterised by minimal surface disturbance and environmental impact, represents a viable solution to the EU's raw materials challenges. This approach, combined with new business models and advanced technologies, could significantly increase public acceptance of mining activities while meeting the EU's resource needs. Success requires a fundamental transformation of the mining sector, encompassing technological innovation, business model evolution, and workforce development. The research suggests that invisible mining could enable the coexistence of resource extraction and environmental protection, particularly in sensitive areas, while supporting the EU's transition to a green economy. The study emphasises that this transformation demands sustained investment in robotics research, development of circular economy practices, and reimagining of traditional mining business models to create a more sustainable and socially acceptable mining industry.

How to cite: Komac, M., Correia, V., and Falck, E.: Invisible Mining: A Novel Approach to Addressing EU Critical Raw Materials Challenges, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18711, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18711, 2025.