CRMs for Sustainable Energy Future: Global Insights and Research

Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) are essential for enabling modern technologies, particularly in renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, long-duration energy storage (LDES), and digital infrastructure. These materials are fundamental to the European Union’s strategic objectives for climate neutrality and digital transformation and are central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)¹. In response to escalating geopolitical and supply chain vulnerabilities, the European Commission has enacted the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) to promote a secure, ethical, and sustainable CRM supply[1].

The upcoming webinar, scheduled for virtual participation on May 29, 2025, is open to all interested individuals, professionals working in the mining, raw materials, and energy transition sectors, graduate and postgraduate students, early-stage researchers.  This seminar is organized under Horizon Europe CICERO, Horizon Europe EXCEED, Horizon Europe AVANTIS, Horizon Europe LITHOS, Horizon Europe ENICON projects.

The seminar will prioritize international collaboration to foster global cooperation in CRM innovation and policy development. Two high level experts from U. S. A Prof. Z. Agioutantis (University of Kentucky) and Australia Prof. G. Barakos (Curtin University) will emphasize the global perspective of CRM mining and research technologies.

Dr George Barakos is currently a Senior Lecturer in Mining Engineering in WA School of Mines (WASM), Curtin University, Australia. Prior to this role, he had been research associate at Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg in Germany from 2017 to 2022. He obtained his Diploma in Mineral Resources Engineering and M.Sc. in Geoenvironmental Engineering from the Technical University of Crete, Greece, and his Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany, in 2005, 2007, and 2017, respectively. Dr Barakos also has significant experience not only in the academia but also in the mining industry, having worked as a consulting engineer in mining operations in Greece for several years. He has devoted several years on the research for the mineability of rare earth element deposits and the subsequent feasibility of rare earth mining projects. He has expanded his research to the feasible exploitation of other critical raw materials as well (uranium, nickel, cobalt, lithium, indium, germanium among others). His research interest for critical raw materials is not restricted only to their excavation from deposits but is expanded to the entire value chain of these commodities, from their prospecting to the manufacturing of the end products. In addition to the aforementioned, his interests also lie in the fields of environmental, social, and political impacts of mining projects, acquisition of social license to operate, and health & safety measures in mining environments.

Dr Zach Agioutantis is the Mining Engineering Foundation Professor and Chair of the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Kentucky, U.S. A. He received an Engineering Diploma in Mining and Metallurgical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece (1982) and MS and PhD degrees from Virginia Tech (1984, 1987). He has authored and co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed journal papers and book chapters and more than 250 conference papers on subjects related to ground subsidence, applied and theoretical rock mechanics, soil mechanics, numerical modeling in applied geomechanics, slope stability, blasting, computer applications in mining and geotechnical engineering, mining systems and mining systems simulation, and sustainability in mining operations. His current research focuses on (a) the automation of mining equipment used in underground operations, such as haulage vehicles, and (b) the development and improvement of ground control technology software that will provide operators with easy-to-use tools for designing underground mining operations. A number of his software packages are currently used by federal agencies. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the 2018 Syd and Felicia Peng Award (Society for Mining, Exploration and Metallurgy – SME), the 2020 College of Engineering Research Award (UKY), the 2020 Steven McCann Award for Excellence in Education (PCMIA), the 2020 Ludwig Wilke Award (Society of Mining Professors – SOMP), the 2022 Rock Mechanics Award (SME), and the 2024 Howard N. Eavenson Award (SME). He was named a 2025-2026 University Research Professor at the University of Kentucky and he also received the 2025 Henry Mason Lutes Award for Excellence in Engineering Education (UKY). He is currently serving on the SOMP council (2019-to date) and the board of directors of the American Rock Mechanics Association (2023-2029).

The detailed program is the following:

If you are interested, please register at the following link, Register here until 27/5/2025:

The registered participants will receive an email with the zoom link.

Organized by:

[1] Komnitsas, K, &, Eerola, T. Public Acceptance and Responsible Mining towards Energy Transition, 11th International Conference on Sustainable Development in the Minerals Industry – SDIMI, Torino, Italy, July 9-11, 2024.