Periodic Reporting for period 1 - XTRACT (A Sustainable Ecosystem for the Innovative Resource Recovery and Complex Ore Extraction)
Reporting period: 2023-12-01 to 2025-05-31
The mining industry contributes 2-3% of global CO2 emissions and has a prominent role to play in emissions reduction. Within the industry, much of the focus to date has been on portfolio shifts, i.e. divestment of coal assets. However, the industry is facing increasing pressure from regulators, investors, and customers to decarbonize operations. The XTRACT project, launched in December 2023, is set to revolutionise the mining industry with its pioneering approach towards achieving the Zero Emission Mine of the Future. This ambitious three-year Horizon Europe-funded initiative brings together 14 partner organisations from 9 European countries. The aim of this project is to add a highly innovative new alternative to the toolbox of how stockpiles and tailings are assessed, relieving the pressure on resources, and contributing to the realisation of EU Climate Neutrality Goals, with a significant benefit of emission reduction. XTRACT also aims to introduce low-TRL green technologies of biohydrometallurgy and phytoremediation, particularly appropriate for low-grade ores, mining waste piles and abandoned sites that represent a solution for mine waste remediation but also for the extraction and recovery of various critical and strategic metals.
Key Innovations
- Automation and Precision Mining: Introducing automation in mineral prospecting and extraction, and the novel concept of precision mining for selective recovery of valuable metals from low-grade minerals and mine wastes.
- Remote Sensing and Monitoring: Scaling and deploying remote sensing systems and analytical resources to allow systematic and remote monitoring of “hard-to-access” mining sites and waste deposits.
- Green Technologies: Introducing low-TRL green technologies of biohydrometallurgy (in situ -bioleaching, phytomining and phytoremediation), particularly appropriate for low-grade ores, mining waste piles and abandoned sites, using microorganisms, trees and hyperaccumulator plants.
- Resource Utilization of Tailings: Adding a highly innovative new alternative to the toolbox of how stockpiles and tailings are assessed, leading to more accurate resource estimates, better process design, improved waste management, more accurate financial planning, and improved safety.
Through its groundbreaking work, the XTRACT project is set to make a significant impact on the mining industry, contributing to the EU’s sustainability goals and setting a new standard for resource recovery and environmental stewardship. By addressing the challenges of sustainable mining, XTRACT aims to pave the way for a greener, more efficient future in resource extraction.
Key Innovations
- Automation and Precision Mining: Introducing automation in mineral prospecting and extraction, and the novel concept of precision mining for selective recovery of valuable metals from low-grade minerals and mine wastes.
- Remote Sensing and Monitoring: Scaling and deploying remote sensing systems and analytical resources to allow systematic and remote monitoring of “hard-to-access” mining sites and waste deposits.
- Green Technologies: Introducing low-TRL green technologies of biohydrometallurgy (in situ -bioleaching, phytomining and phytoremediation), particularly appropriate for low-grade ores, mining waste piles and abandoned sites, using microorganisms, trees and hyperaccumulator plants.
- Resource Utilization of Tailings: Adding a highly innovative new alternative to the toolbox of how stockpiles and tailings are assessed, leading to more accurate resource estimates, better process design, improved waste management, more accurate financial planning, and improved safety.
Through its groundbreaking work, the XTRACT project is set to make a significant impact on the mining industry, contributing to the EU’s sustainability goals and setting a new standard for resource recovery and environmental stewardship. By addressing the challenges of sustainable mining, XTRACT aims to pave the way for a greener, more efficient future in resource extraction.
In the first half of the project, four out of ten work packages have been completed successfully as planned. The first months were mainly devoted to preparatory work for the new technologies and processes to be developed. This includes visiting and preparing the four pilot sites in Germany, Portugal, Sweden and Greece.
Bioleaching and phytomining laboratory experiments were carried out in order to create the best conditions for successful implementation at the pilot sites. New sensor systems for use with UAVs have been developed to enable exploration of areas that were previously difficult or impossible to access. The prototypes are complete and will be tested in the field in the coming months. The Muon technology-based borehole detector system is also currently in the final stage of readiness. With the aim of optimising conventional drilling technology and making it usable also for difficult use cases, extensive data was collected using measurement-while-drilling technology, which is currently being evaluated.
In addition to the new mining technologies themselves, extensive accompanying work was carried out. An in-depth analysis of the current situation and requirements was carried out under the title ‘Understanding the stage of raw materials extraction and resource recovery’, which is the basis for all innovations in the project. An initial version of the Knowledge Repository within the XTRACT platform is online and already contains substantial data. Furthermore, market and potential analyses were carried out and stakeholders were involved. All of this was accompanied by professional communication measures.
Bioleaching and phytomining laboratory experiments were carried out in order to create the best conditions for successful implementation at the pilot sites. New sensor systems for use with UAVs have been developed to enable exploration of areas that were previously difficult or impossible to access. The prototypes are complete and will be tested in the field in the coming months. The Muon technology-based borehole detector system is also currently in the final stage of readiness. With the aim of optimising conventional drilling technology and making it usable also for difficult use cases, extensive data was collected using measurement-while-drilling technology, which is currently being evaluated.
In addition to the new mining technologies themselves, extensive accompanying work was carried out. An in-depth analysis of the current situation and requirements was carried out under the title ‘Understanding the stage of raw materials extraction and resource recovery’, which is the basis for all innovations in the project. An initial version of the Knowledge Repository within the XTRACT platform is online and already contains substantial data. Furthermore, market and potential analyses were carried out and stakeholders were involved. All of this was accompanied by professional communication measures.
The expected medium-term impacts of the XTRACT project include the development of innovative technologies for the extraction of raw materials within the European Union, as well as an increase in the domestic sourcing of these materials. The project aims to improve the responsible supply of raw materials to Europe in line with the EU's non-regulatory principles for sustainable raw materials, which are based on the EU acquis and set social, environmental and economic performance requirements for extraction and processing. In addition, the project has the potential to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emission intensity per tonne of material (metal, metal content, concentrate or mineral) extracted, contributing to the EU's climate neutrality objectives. It will also promote the adoption of the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) and the United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS) in the raw materials sector. In addition, the project aims to accelerate the development of EU-based mineral exploration projects by integrating innovative technologies. In the long term, the XTRACT project aims to increase autonomy in key strategic value chains, strengthening the resilience of the industry.