Importance of Mining Business for Alentejo, Portugal
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Alentejo Region, Portugal Jorge Pulido Valente Vice-President, Alentejo Regional Comission for Coordination and Development Sevilla, 23rd January 2019 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 776811| Topic: SC5-15-2016-2017 A CCDR ALENTEJO A DESAFIAR O FUTURO! Inovação: territorial, económica, social, cultural, tecnológica, institucional, governacional Emprego: agricultura, turismo, indústria, ambiente, energia, construção Oportunidades de negócio: agro indústria, turismo, TIC, ambiente, economia circular, energia, construção Regional Development: approaches and activities • Alentejo and Algarve mineral occurrences map Atlanterra project, EU Interreg Atlantic Area, Matos and Filipe Eds, LNEG 2013 http://www.lneg.pt/download/7904 Alentejo mineral potential Alentejo mining regions Iberian Pyrite Belt, an European Mine Region Active mining: • Neves Corvo (Somincor/Lundin Mining) • Aljustrel (Almina) Production Region and mining & metallurgy Overview of the region (2016) 31 605 sqm (AL/PT 34,3%) • Resident Population 259 876 (AL/PT 5%) • Activity rate 47,8% (AL/PT 50,2%) • 66 Small towns (AL/PT 11,4%) • 12 163 M€ GDP (AL/PT 6,6%) Overview of the Mining and Metallurgy GVA - 251,704 m€ (PT 500,496 m€) GVA - 23,6% (PT 18,3%) Employees - 3 182 (PT 11 530) GVA Employment - 59,379 m€ (PT 37,300 m€) Average Compensation - 11504€ (PT 17866€) Compensation / GVA - 33,8% (PT45,3%) GFCF / GVA 25,9% (PT 22,4) GPD – Gross Domestic Product, GFCF - Gross Fixed Capital Formation, GVA – Groth Value Added Alentejo‘s Smart Specialisation Strategies Priority Name Description Add value to the natural and cultural heritage of the region through links with cultural and creative Heritage, Cultural and Creative industries, with the objective of increasing the cultural and creative profile of Alentejo. Supporting Industry and Services for the expansion of tourism services and their links with priority areas related to food and the Tourism environment. Add value to the geological resources and natural environment of the region, supporting the growth and clustering of innovative economic activities and strategic diversification from Mineral, Natural and extraction industries, promoting the emergence of activities related to design and new Environmental Resources construction materials, sustainable production and exploration, recycling, energy, marine bio technologies, while promoting the natural and cultural heritage. Critical technologies, Energy Critical technologies for network management and IT security / interactive systems, applied to the and Smart Mobility fields of energy and smart mobility Social Economy - technologies Steer scientific and entrepreneurial competencies to create new technological solutions and ways of and services working that can respond to societal challenges. Add value to the territorial and climatic conditions of the region, strengthening links between the agricultural and food processing industries, integrating and coordinating value chains, making links Food & forestry with culture and tourism, explore market opportunities and technologies for precision agriculture, advanced production systems with a focus on electronics, sensors and ICT solutions as well as new control methods of production. Civic engagement Integration of mining into the broader regional development approach • Mining became a specialized, high depth venture with more technological needs and high geologic expertizes to link costs with gain opportunities in a global mineral market • Mining sector is of great relevance for the region (municipalities surrounding the mine location) in terms of investment, employment and families revenue • Mineral resources are identified and classified as most relevant in regional smart strategy specialization • Relationships between mining, broader industry, circular economy, community and regulator have to be increased • Some environmental, cultural and social constraints prevents the full exploitation of mineral resources (vg uranium) • Mining could have a bigger and better contribution for the development of the region Lessons learned Most important important lessons learned • Mineral resources are not fully identified and localized • Mining activity is of extreme complexity and must be previously evaluated and prepared in all dimensions: economic, social, cultural and environmental • Environmental liabilities due to past mining activities and how to deal with them and turn them into positive assets is essential to have the trust of populations • Old/new mines and its degree of impact on regional/local economy or connection to local companies • Mining projects must consider, since the beginning, the impact of closure and alternativ activities • Holistic view of the whole Value Chain and relevance of circular Economy • Only people that benefit directly from the mining activity have a positive view • Mines located near urban spaces are always under extra pressure Pitfalls Most relevant pitfalls • Information + communication + transparency + trust, linked with the local/regional public • Strong and real investment in social responsability • Post Evaluation Assessment, linked with public health and environment as an asset to the region • What to do with the closing of the mine, linked with what is left after mining and closing of business • Sites of mining companies are extremely poor: no data, no information, no connection/interaction with the public • somincor.com.pt • www.almina.pt.