Seville, Spain – [June 4th] — In celebration of World Environment Day, El Norte de Castilla, one of Spain’s leading regional newspapers, featured the DEXPLORE EU Project in a special edition highlighting European innovation in sustainable resource development. The article underscores DEXPLORE’s groundbreaking approach to addressing one of the EU’s most pressing challenges: the responsible exploration of Critical and Strategic Raw Materials (CRMs & SRMs).
Coordinated by the Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster (ISMC) and funded under the Horizon Europe framework, DEXPLORE is a pioneering research and innovation initiative that seeks to revolutionize deep land mineral exploration. The project brings together 13 partners — including SMEs, academic institutions, and industrial stakeholders — from across Europe, with active pilots in Spain and Estonia.
Currently, only 3% of the CRMs required for Europe’s green technologies — such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced battery storage — are sourced within the continent. DEXPLORE addresses this critical dependency by developing and deploying non-invasive exploration methodologies that combine:
- UAV-assisted remote sensing
- Satellite Earth Observation
- Advanced geophysical imaging
- Digital modelling tools
capable of reaching depths of up to 600 meters, all while minimizing environmental impact.
DEXPLORE goal is clear: enabling Europe to identify its raw material potential while protecting its natural ecosystems.
This project exemplifies the European Green Deal’s call for strategic autonomy and sustainable industry transformation. By fostering collaboration between the research sector and mining industry, DEXPLORE is shaping a more transparent, innovative, and environmentally responsible raw materials value chain.
📰 Read the full article from El Norte de Castilla here:
https://www.elnortedecastilla.es/content-local/iberian-sustainable-mining-cluster
