REESOURCE
Developing innovative, low-impact technologies for a sustainable and resilient European supply of Rare Earth Elements.
REESOURCE is a Horizon Europe project developing responsible, sustainable and low-carbon technologies to strengthen Europe’s supply of Rare Earth Elements (REEs). These critical raw materials are essential for renewable energy technologies, electromobility and other strategic applications, while Europe remains highly dependent on external supply. REESOURCE addresses this challenge through an integrated approach covering mining, mineral processing, water treatment, tailings management and sustainability assessment.
University of Leoben (MUL) plays a key role in REESOURCE and leads two work packages: WP4, “Development of an innovative mining technology to boost the European extraction of Raw Materials”, and WP7, “Integration of innovative mining technology for Raw Materials extraction”. Through these two work packages, MUL is responsible for both the development of the innovative mining concept and its integration into the overall REESOURCE value chain.
A major focus is the development and adaptation of raise mining for the Fen rare earth element deposit in Norway. In close cooperation with Rare Earths Norway (REN), MUL develops the geotechnical and mining-engineering basis for the safe and efficient application of this highly automated underground mining method. Geological and geotechnical data are assessed using empirical approaches, analytical methods and multi-scale numerical modelling. The investigations include stope geometry and stability, extraction and sequencing strategies, rock-mass behaviour and the interaction between backfill and the surrounding rock.
Importantly, the developed raise mining concept is not intended to be limited to the Fen deposit. Its transferability and applicability to selected other European mineral deposits are also evaluated within the project. This assessment aims to identify the geological, geotechnical and mining-related conditions under which the method can be successfully adapted to other deposits and thereby contribute to a broader European raw-material supply.
Through WP7, the developed mining technology is further integrated with the other innovative technologies and processes investigated within REESOURCE. By combining technology development, site-specific validation and transferability assessment, MUL contributes to the development of scalable and transferable mining solutions for future European raw-material extraction.
Funding programme: Horizon Europe
Total Project Budget: € 4.68 million
Our budget: € 737,000
Our role: Work package leader of WP4 (Development of an innovative mining technology
to boost the European extraction of Raw Materials) and WP7
(Integration of innovative mining technology for Raw Materials extraction)
Partner: 10
Duration: 42 months
Start Date: December 2023
Responsible:Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.mont. Michael TOST
Contributors: Dipl.-Ing. Julia SCHMIDBAUER (Project Management), Natalia BANASIAK, inz. mgr., Orcun DENIZ, MSc.
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