Roadmap for Metals and Minerals

The green transition means a sharp increase in demand for metals and minerals. Today, a few countries outside Europe control these resources. But Sweden and other countries in the EU have great potential to secure their supply, not least through rich ore deposits. The main question for IVA's project Roadmap for Metals and Minerals is how Sweden and Europe can sustainably secure the supply of metals and minerals.

Energy & Resources
Projects & programmes

About the project

Roadmap for Metals and Minerals

Duration: 2022-2024

Steering Committee Chair: Elisabeth Nilsson

Project Manager: Karin Byman 

Funded by: ABB, Epiroc AB, LKAB, Ragn-Sells, Sandvik AB and Zinkgruvan Mining with support from Mistra (Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research), the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) and Swedish Mining Innovation, a joint initiative of Vinnova, Formas and the Swedish Energy Agency.

Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine changed the conditions for international trade in metals and minerals. At the same time, Sweden and other EU countries have large ore deposits. Metals and minerals can also be recovered from existing products and waste. We are therefore well placed to meet the increased needs.

The project will:

  • Describe the conditions for a sustainable supply of metals and minerals in Europe.
  • Analyse the opportunities and obstacles to securing the supply of metals and minerals for the green transition in a sustainable manner.
  • Present concrete proposals and recommendations to politicians and other decision-makers in Sweden and the EU.
Roadmap for metals and minerals

Reports

Report: Metals and minerals for sustainable development and strengthened competitiveness"

Monday 14 October 2024

Report: Metals and minerals for sustainable development and strengthened competitiveness

Secure access to strategic metals and minerals is essential for the transition to a fossil-free and competitive society. This final report from IVA's project Roadmap for Metals and Minerals presents a number of concrete proposals which can form the basis for a new Swedish mineral strategy.

Report: Metals and minerals for sustainable development and strengthened competitiveness

Secure access to strategic metals and minerals is essential for the transition to a fossil-free and competitive society. This final report from IVA's project Roadmap for Metals and Minerals presents a number of concrete proposals which can form the basis for a new Swedish mineral strategy.

Energy & Resources
Reports
Report: Increased need for metals and minerals – strategies, conflicts of objectives and interests"

Tuesday 21 May 2024

Report: Increased need for metals and minerals – strategies, conflicts of objectives and interests

Sweden needs a new mineral strategy to manage the increased extraction of metals and minerals that the transition to a fossil-free and sustainable society entails. The strategy needs to take the increased demands as a starting point and manage the conflicts of objectives and interests that these entail. Not least, communities with mining operations need to be better compensated than they currently are. This is concluded in this report, which is the third of four from IVA's project Roadmap for Metals and Minerals.

Report: Increased need for metals and minerals – strategies, conflicts of objectives and interests

Sweden needs a new mineral strategy to manage the increased extraction of metals and minerals that the transition to a fossil-free and sustainable society entails. The strategy needs to take the increased demands as a starting point and manage the conflicts of objectives and interests that these entail. Not least, communities with mining operations need to be better compensated than they currently are. This is concluded in this report, which is the third of four from IVA's project Roadmap for Metals and Minerals.

Energy & Resources
Reports
Report lying on table with coffee cup Report: Circular flows to meet increased demand for metals and minerals"

Wednesday 20 March 2024

Report: Circular flows to meet increased demand for metals and minerals

Waste is used too little as a resource to contribute to sustainable and secure access to critical metals and minerals. This is one of the conclusions of a new report that emphasizes the importance of developing circular systems, as the major societal challenges cannot be solved solely by increased use of primary resources from mining.

Report: Circular flows to meet increased demand for metals and minerals

Waste is used too little as a resource to contribute to sustainable and secure access to critical metals and minerals. This is one of the conclusions of a new report that emphasizes the importance of developing circular systems, as the major societal challenges cannot be solved solely by increased use of primary resources from mining.

Energy & Resources
Reports
Report: Challenges for meeting increased demand for metals and minerals"

Monday 12 February 2024

Report: Challenges for meeting increased demand for metals and minerals

Observations about conditions and challenges, as well as measures required to ensure access to metals and minerals to cope with the transition to a fossil-free society. One conclusion is that the demand for metals and minerals will increase sharply, and that Sweden and the Swedish mining cluster play an important role in meeting the needs.

Report: Challenges for meeting increased demand for metals and minerals

Observations about conditions and challenges, as well as measures required to ensure access to metals and minerals to cope with the transition to a fossil-free society. One conclusion is that the demand for metals and minerals will increase sharply, and that Sweden and the Swedish mining cluster play an important role in meeting the needs.

Energy & Resources
Reports
See more reports

IVA spotlight on: EU's goals for critical metals and minerals

Last week, the European Parliament and the European Council agreed to pass the Critical Raw Materials Act, the EU's plan to secure the future supply of critical raw materials. This includes rare metals that could be crucial for Sweden's and the EU's ability to keep up with the green and digital transition. Researcher and IVA member Magnus Ericsson is one of the initiators of IVA's ongoing project 'Roadmap for Metals and Minerals,' which aims to provide answers on how the goals in the EU's plan can be achieved.

IVA spotlight on: EU's goals for critical metals and minerals

Last week, the European Parliament and the European Council agreed to pass the Critical Raw Materials Act, the EU's plan to secure the future supply of critical raw materials. This includes rare metals that could be crucial for Sweden's and the EU's ability to keep up with the green and digital transition. Researcher and IVA member Magnus Ericsson is one of the initiators of IVA's ongoing project 'Roadmap for Metals and Minerals,' which aims to provide answers on how the goals in the EU's plan can be achieved.

Challenges of extracting rare earth elements

Just after New Year, LKAB announced that it has made the largest rare earth discovery in Europe to date. The elements are vital for building batteries, wind turbines and other technology that can enable a rapid transition to a fossil-free society. However, extracting the in-demand elements comes with some major challenges that need to be resolved, according to Jenny Greberg, Vice President Technology at LKAB and a Fellow of IVA.

Challenges of extracting rare earth elements

Just after New Year, LKAB announced that it has made the largest rare earth discovery in Europe to date. The elements are vital for building batteries, wind turbines and other technology that can enable a rapid transition to a fossil-free society. However, extracting the in-demand elements comes with some major challenges that need to be resolved, according to Jenny Greberg, Vice President Technology at LKAB and a Fellow of IVA.

Steering Committee and Expert Groups

See all members of the project's Steering Committee and three Expert Groups: Extraction, Circular Flows and Politics and Public Acceptance.

Reference Groups

See all members of the project's International and Political Reference Groups.

Contact

Karin Byman

Project Manager

Technology and economics

Telefon: +46 70-574 70 72