Please introduce yourself first and tell us about your background, areas of expertise, and your position in your institution.
My name is Lorena Viladés. I am a mining engineer, holding both a bachelor’s and an MSc in mining from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Before my role as a Project Manager in ANEFA, I worked as a technological consultant in an international consultancy firm. Currently, I am studying for an MBA in Mining and Raw Materials.
What is your role in Rotate as an organization and as an individual?
ANEFA, the Spanish Aggregates Association, is the organisation that coordinates the project. We oversee the supervision and management of the project work plan, as well as the implementation of quality procedures, and we act as intermediaries for communication with the European Commission.
Besides my role as project manager, I am responsible for ROTATE’s dissemination and communication activities. They are oriented to share the project’s research and commercial results with the scientific community, business players, civil society, and policymakers.
Why do you think that projects like Rotate are so important?
Nowadays, Europe is highly dependent on mineral imports from third countries. ROTATE aims to solve this by improving the extraction and processing of raw materials by minimizing their environmental impact (zero emissions, materials, resources, and consumption efficiency).
It will deliver circular solutions for waste valorisation and create a symbiosis between the critical raw materials and aggregates industries and the construction sector.
ROTATE is also important because, in addition to the technical breakthroughs, it will enhance the social acceptance of the open cast extracting industry, supported by a robust policy interaction and a strong clustering network.
For our team in ANEFA, coordinating such a great project means being at the forefront not only in the aggregates sector but also in the mining industry.
In your opinion which should be the most important areas for the future of mining?
I think it is essential for the sector to focus on increasing the circularity of the sites, and to assess, monitor, and manage their environmental footprint. We need to ensure access to a secure, diversified, affordable, and sustainable supply of raw materials.
Let us know you a little bit better. Would you tell us something you like to do when you are out of the office?
In my free time, I like meeting my friends, riding my bike in the mountains, or reading a good book. And of course, I love travelling!
