On the occasion of World Water Day, celebrated every year on 22 March, the National Aggregates Association of Spain (ANEFA) highlights the sector’s commitment to the responsible use of water resources through two European initiatives in which it actively participates: the SCIMIN-CRM and Rotate projects, funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe programme.
The SCIMIN-CRM project (Sustainable & Circular Production of Mineral Critical Raw Materials), led by ANEFA and funded by the European Commission within the Horizon Europe framework (Grant Agreement No. 101177746), aims to promote more sustainable and circular models for the production of critical mineral raw materials, which are essential for Europe’s energy and digital transition.
Regarding water management, and with the contribution of consortium partner Minepro Solutions SL, the project foresees the integration of solutions aimed at optimising the use of water resources during mineral processing stages.
Although the specific work related to water management has not yet started within the project, the proposed approach follows principles widely applied in advanced mining operations. These include decantation and filtration processes, which make it possible to recover as much water as possible from the production process.
These techniques facilitate the recirculation of water within the plant itself, reducing the need for additional water abstraction and contributing to a more efficient, circular, and environmentally responsible process.
Meanwhile, the European project Rotate (Circular Ecological Essential & Critical Raw Materials), led by ANEFA and funded by Horizon Europe (Grant Agreement No. 101058651), has published seven technical handbooks that together form a comprehensive guide aimed at strengthening the environmental leadership of the European extractive sector.
Among them, Handbook Volume 2 – Resource Efficiency and Water Management stands out, offering a technical and legal approach to efficient water management and deposit characterisation. The handbook promotes solutions such as closed water circuits, recycling of process water, and the implementation of best practices, aligned with the principles of the EU Water Framework Directive.
The handbook also includes a proposal for a low-cost environmental monitoring system, designed to support adaptive environmental risk management in mining operations.
Taken together, the seven handbooks developed within the ROTATE project constitute a technical roadmap towards a more sustainable, resilient, and socially accepted extractive model, supporting the ecological transition of the European raw materials sector.
In the context of World Water Day, initiatives such as SCIMIN-CRM and Rotate demonstrate how innovation, applied research, and European cooperation are helping to improve water-use efficiency and strengthen the sustainability of extractive activities, a key factor in ensuring the responsible supply of raw materials that are essential for society.
