S0105 - Mining in Europe: The green controversy

As Europe seeks to strengthen its industrial resilience and secure the raw materials needed for the green transition, mining has returned to the centre of political and economic debate. Yet while demand for critical minerals continues to grow, new mining projects often face public opposition, regulatory complexity, and lengthy permitting processes.

In this episode of Raw Talks, Mikael Staffas, President and CEO of Boliden, discusses Europe's geological potential, the realities of modern mining, and the challenges of balancing sustainability, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy. Drawing on Boliden's experience across Europe, he explains how innovation, electrification, automation, and circular solutions are reshaping the industry while helping to reduce its environmental footprint.

The conversation explores whether Europe can responsibly expand its own resource base, what policymakers can do to attract investment, and why public understanding of mining may be lagging behind the industry's transformation.