His position that economic and geopolitical stability in Europe cannot exist without security in the supply chain of raw materials was emphatically stated by the president of the Association of Mining Companies of Greece (SME), Konstantinos Yazitzoglou, speaking from the stage of tonight’s event held in Thessaloniki on the subject “Minerals, Green Transition, Climate Change – 2024 Year of Mineral Resources – It’s All Around Us”.
Saying that the EU consumes on an annual basis several hundreds of millions of tons of mineral raw materials and noting that despite this fact in the last 10 years the perception was established that it can procure them from some third countries avoiding the nuisance caused by mining, just like any another human activity, the CME president pointed out that only recently, “under the pressure of the need to change the technological model, to prevent environmental destruction, the EU accepted reality”, he underlined.
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Of course, as he added, given the legal framework, the basic parameters of production costs, but also the mentality that prevails at the EU level, “we have a very difficult and uphill road to travel in order to restore the production of mineral raw materials to the levels that will give security and independence” and added that mining cannot but be considered one of the most critical and nationally important activities”.
The president of the Association of Mining Enterprises of Greece (SME), Konstantinos Yazitzoglou
Referring to the mining activity through the climate crisis, saying that mining in the EU is the most environmentally friendly, due to the very strict regulations that have been established and are in force at the European level for safety and the environment, advanced technology and strict control procedures , he asked himself:
“Mining pollutes and tourism, transport, agriculture, data centers don’t? The mining industry is responsible for only 1% of air pollution, for the remaining 99% who is responsible?”
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In this context, he noted that “if we want the good of mining, the best thing is to produce mineral raw materials from the European lands”, while among other things in the presentation he described the lands and subsoils of Macedonia as “blessed”, saying characteristically that “it is the subsoil of Macedonia that saved the lot during the oil crises”.
Annual sales at 1.2 billion euros – Sales 1.7 billion euros – Sustainability the vision of SME
“Our goal and the basic principle of SME is sustainable mining and development. Many CME member companies are ranked in the highest positions of production and sales of mineral raw materials at global and European level. Even in times of crisis we spend more than 20 million euros per year on the environment, we have restored since 1979, 85,000 hectares of land, and we have planted more than 3.5 million trees and plants”, the general manager emphasized in his presentation of SME, Christos Kavalopoulos, saying that people in the industry are applying cutting-edge technologies and innovative methods to reduce the environmental footprint of mining.
Among the data he presented, he said that the 27 mining and extractive companies, members of the SME, have an annual turnover of 1.7 billion euros – 65% from exports – and exports of 1.2 billion euros, while participating in the country’s GDP with a rate of 3%. He added that companies in the sector make investments of more than 400 million euros per year, employ 18,000 people directly and offer 75,000 indirect jobs, while “ensuring work for 40% of people in the regions where they operate.” Among other things, he said that in the last four years, the industry recorded zero accidents.
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The general director of SME, Christos Cavalopoulos
In the activities and events for the 100 years of presence of SME, the chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Celebration, Athanasios Kefalas, spoke with a vision of the responsible sustainable mining industry, the prospects and benefits from the further exploitation of mineral resources and the contribution of the sector to development of the country. “The Greek mining industry is inclusive, it prepares and proposes solutions for the future”, he emphasized, among other things, adding that it already incorporates innovation and digital solutions in its daily practices.
The position that the time has come to review the speed with which the EU promotes the green transition, as it does with the primary sector, was expressed by the chairman of the Standing Committee on Research and Technology of the Hellenic Parliament, Stratos Simopoulos, and noted that the state recognizes the problem it has created for businesses, under the guise of environmental conditions, delaying licensing. Among other things, he called on industries to invest in innovation, saying it is the heavy weapon that will drive the green transition and sustainable economy.
The Deputy Regional Governor for Development and Environment of the Greek Municipality, Konstantinos Youtikas, said, among other things, in his greeting that the mining sector contributes significantly to the creation of new jobs and to the strengthening of the competitiveness of Greek business, while he acknowledged that the sector demonstrates its interest in green and sustainable development.
A short greeting was given at the event by the Deputy Mayor of Cleanliness of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Giorgos Dimarelos, the representative of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia – Thrace, Stelios Tamvakidis, and the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Charalambos Feidas, who mentioned that mineral raw materials are extremely important for – among others – technology products.
The role of Greece in the field of mineral raw materials is very important
The interconnection of energy with the sector of mineral raw materials is a given, pointed out the president of the Energy Institute of Southeast Europe (IENE), Kostis Stambolis, and saying that Greece’s role in this sector is very important in the EU, he said “now it is being discovered by Europeans”.
Among other things, in his presentation he stated that despite what is said, the energy transition “has not even started, we are still at the very beginning”, he emphasized that there is significant inertia in changing the mix and noted that energy consumption is constantly increasing vertically.
He stated that in order for the Greek mining sector to be able to take advantage of the opportunity of CRM and to intensify the efforts already made to support the export orientation in every way, it will be necessary for the state, with the assistance of the sector, to draw up a strategy and support it financially and tax incentives.
Unfortunately, as he said, despite the grandiose plans in our country for green development, however, there is no strategy for the role of the mining sector in this and the utilization of the comparative advantage that our country has in the mining sector, with the aim of highlighting the critical metals (CRMs).
Additionally, he said that in the difficult and highly competitive international and European environment of critical metals, Greek mining companies are called upon to chart their own difficult course, in order not only to survive, but also to become strong economically and technologically, “something that will allow them to become export units”, he pointed out.
With the great tradition and historical path of the sector, “we must remain optimistic that it will cope with any challenges and very soon will be able to make a worthy contribution to the new international environment that is now being created”, he emphasized.
Source: www.zougla.gr
