Self-sufficiency with natural resources based on the principles of the circular economy

Mineral raw materials and the circular economy

The expert consultation, including a round table discussion, which was held on 27 May 2024 at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, focused on mineral raw materials and achieving self-sufficiency with natural resources based on the principles of the circular economy. The one-day expert event was part of the LIFE IP RESTART project. During the event, speakers highlighted the critical need for education on the circular economy and the importance of relevant data and methodologies to support informed decision-making in the green transition.

The event was organised by the Section of mineral raw materials at the Chamber of Construction and Building Material Industry, the Surface Mining Association and Georudeko, a partner in the nine-year strategic project RESTART. This project aims to increase the recovery of construction and mining waste, transforming it into valuable products by preparing the conditions necessary for a circular economy in Slovenia. The project is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy.

The training was primarily targeted at business representatives working in the mining and construction sectors, addressing the many dilemmas and challenges they face in developing innovative circular economy models amidst numerous legislative, administrative, human resource, financial and technological barriers.

The panel at the consultation consisted of Dr Aurela Shitza from Industrial Minerals Europe, Dr Marko Maver from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Tanja Bolte, MSc, and Mateja Simčič from the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy, Jožef Stibilj, President of the Section of mineral raw materials at the Chamber of Construction and Building Material Industry, Professor Dr Lučka Kajfež Bogataj, Dr Viktor Simončič, Dr Alenka Mauko Pranjić and Dr Primož Oprčkal from the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Boštjan Gomilšek from Result, Dr Rudi Vončina from the Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute and the main organiser of the event, Dr Željko Pogačnik from Georudeko.

The expert consultation concluded with a round table discussion on the financial aspects of business in the transition to a green economy, moderated by Nena Dukuzov, MSc, from the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology.