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Integrated Modular Plant and Containerised Tools for Selective, Low-impact Mining of Small High-grade Deposits

Objective

The current mining paradigm promotes extraction from large ‘world-class’ deposits that have required innovations in mining techniques to deal with low grades, large infrastructure to deal with high throughputs and large feasibility studies to prove long-term commercial viability. High investment in operations is no longer available in the current economic climate and many small companies have ceased to trade, concentrating production and limiting the ability of the raw materials market to respond to increased demand for raw materials or shortages in raw material supply. The problem is most extreme for critical raw materials that are produced in small quantities relative to traditional metal commodities because the potential return on investment is too low. The IMPaCT project proposes a solution that develops a new switch on-switch off (SOSO) mining paradigm to improve the viability of many critical metal and other small complex deposits.
The whole systems approach that we have adopted to realise the SOSO mining paradigm centres around technological innovations in mining equipment design and mine planning that would reduce the feasibility studies required, throughput of extracted material, infrastructure, land use, resource consumption and waste. Successful business models for SOSO mining require that mining and processing technologies can be adapted to multiple deposits and commodities. Risks that are associated with the approach concern geological uncertainty, metallurgical variability and social acceptance. The work programme aims to develop the proof-of-concept of total and sustainable mining and processing solutions using case studies in the West Balkans, and subsequently to examine the step-changes that would be required for the technology to be applied globally. The companies involved in the project intend to commercialise the results. Dissemination activities include feedback to European and national policy makers, and the mining industry in general.

Call for proposal

H2020-SC5-2016-2017

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-SC5-2016-OneStageB

Coordinator

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Net EU contribution
€ 2 293 772,99
Address
The Queen's Drive Northcote House
EX4 4QJ Exeter
United Kingdom

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Region
South West (England) Devon Devon CC
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (12)

BUREAU DE RECHERCHES GEOLOGIQUES ET MINIERES
France
Net EU contribution
€ 672 476,25
Address
3 Av Claude Guillemin
45060 Orleans

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Region
Centre — Val de Loire Centre — Val de Loire Loiret
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00
MINECO LIMITED
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 240 044,55
Address
Laser House, 132-140 Goswell Road
EC1V 7DY London

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Region
London Inner London — East Haringey and Islington
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

GEOMET DOO OLOVO
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Net EU contribution
€ 48 754,05
Address
Husein Kapetana Gradascevica Bb
71340 Olovo

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Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

PREDUZECE ZA TRGOVINU I USLUGE MINECO PLUS DOO BEOGRAD (STARI GRAD)
Serbia
Net EU contribution
€ 104 860,15
Address
Strahinjica Bana Br.1
11090 Beograd

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Region
Србија - север Београдски регион Београдска област
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 419 781,25
Address
Templergraben 55
52062 Aachen

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Städteregion Aachen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 664 956,25
Address
South Kensington Campus Exhibition Road
SW7 2AZ London

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Region
London Inner London — West Westminster
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
EXTRACTHIVE
France
Net EU contribution
€ 164 206,10
Address
Chemin De Montfaucon 18
30150 Saint-genies-de-comolas

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Occitanie Languedoc-Roussillon Gard
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

EXTRACTHIVE CERAMICS RECYCLING
France
Net EU contribution
€ 96 054,66
Address
1637 Chemin De La Montagne
84700 Sorgues

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Region
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Vaucluse
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
GLOBAL ECOPROCESS SERVICES OY
Finland
Net EU contribution
€ 294 781,25
Address
Elopellontie 1 G
33470 Ylojarvi

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Manner-Suomi Länsi-Suomi Pirkanmaa
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
CYMRU COAL LIMITED
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 1 359 622,50
Address
Unit 47 Vale Business Park Llandow
CF71 7PF Cowbridge

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Region
Wales East Wales Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
RADOS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LTD
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 297 906,25
Address
50-58 Victoria Road
GU14 7PG Farnborough

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Region
South East (England) Hampshire and Isle of Wight North Hampshire
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
ITA-SUOMEN YLIOPISTO
Finland
Net EU contribution
€ 334 603,75
Address
Yliopistonranta 1 E
70211 Kuopio

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Region
Manner-Suomi Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi Pohjois-Savo
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00