National Mineral Exploration Program Approved. Investigations Begin Across Italy
There are 14 research projects included in the National Program for General Mineral Exploration just approved by the Interministerial Committee for Ecological Transition (CITE), distributed throughout the national territory, in key regions such as Lombardy, Piedmont, Trentino-Alto Adige, Liguria, Toscana, Lazio, Campania, Calabria, Emilia-Romagna, Marche and Sardegna, to which is added the national mapping of the deposits of extractive waste foreseen by the PNRR URBES project.
The program, whose implementation was entrusted by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (MIMIT) to the Geological Service of Italy of ISPRA, involves 15 operational units and over 400 specialists, with an investment of 3.5 million euros dedicated to the first phase of investigation of natural deposits.
The approval of the PNE marks a strategic return for Italy to the valorization of its mineral resources, in a modern, sustainable perspective and in line with European priorities. The objective is to build an updated picture of the national mineral potential, integrating historical information with a new exploration campaign, more than 30 years after the last public investment in the sector. The program also aims to provide preliminary indications to Italian and foreign investors on the availability of raw materials present in the country.
The investigation activities will focus on the most promising areas, selected by a team of experts among the top Italian specialists in mineral deposits. The focus will be directed in particular to numerous Critical and Strategic Raw Materials identified by the European Commission, including: lithium, boron, graphite, copper, manganese, fluorite, barite, feldspar, antimony, tungsten, titanium, bismuth, arsenic, magnesium, rare earths and platinum group metals. The focus also extends to other minerals of interest to the national industry, such as zeolites and industrial minerals.
"Critical raw materials are essential for Europe's industrial future and for security of supply" - said the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security GILBERTO PICHETTO. "With the National Exploration Program, Italy is equipping itself with a modern and transparent tool to understand and enhance its mineral potential, in full respect of the environment. It is a strategic step towards a more autonomous, resilient and sustainable economy."
"The National Exploration Program drawn up by ISPRA, part of the Critical Raw Materials Decree converted into law, represents a fundamental step to relaunch the Italian mining sector and make a concrete contribution to the country's industrial and energy sovereignty - said the Minister of Business and Made in Italy ADOLFO URSO - There is no decarbonization, innovation and industrial future without secure access to these resources. We are working to build a more autonomous, competitive and leading Italy in Europe and in the world".
“ISPRA has continued to work and monitor the mineral resources present in our country even in the past, when the potential of these materials was less known”, stated ISPRA President STEFANO LAPORTA; “The publication of the National Program was made possible by the work of recent years on a topic of such great socio-economic impact”.
ISPRA General Director MARIA SICLARI: “With the National Exploration Program and the URBES project, ISPRA in its dual role as the Geological Survey of Italy and the Institute for the protection of the environment, takes a first step towards the reconstruction of a complex national mining apparatus oriented towards sustainability, as part of an integrated strategy for the supply of raw materials necessary for the European model of decarbonized and digitalized development”.