Mining Regions and Cities Case of Andalusia, Spain
Andalusia is the largest mining producer in Spain, the second-largest copper producer
in the EU and a leader in marble and gypsum production. The region benefits from two
distinct mining subsectors, each with a rich network of suppliers that are relevant
for local development: the metallic mining sector (e.g. copper and zinc), which accounts
for most of the regional mining production, and the non-metallic sector (ornamental
rocks, aggregates and industrial minerals), which is highly dispersed across the territory.
The regional mining value chain has the potential to leverage the increasing global
and EU demand for sustainable raw materials and thus become a frontrunner in leading
technologies and circular processes for environmentally sustainable mining. This study
identifies how Andalusia can build on its strengths and address current and future
challenges to improve regional productivity and well-being while accelerating the
transition to a low-carbon economy and assisting EU climate goals.
The event hosted a roundtable with representatives from private sector, universities and local governments of Andalusia to discuss the recommendations of the study and ways to implement them. Participants and other mining regions joined the conversation around policies, governance structures and implementation mechanisms related to sustainable raw materials supply, diversification opportunities, and regulatory framework.