As part of the Waste2CRM project, we are continuing our work on developing effective methods for recovering critical raw materials from coal mining waste.
This time, the activities are being carried out within WP4: Research and development of hydrometallurgical methods for effective recovery of critical raw materials from mining wastes, implemented by the teams from ITPE and GIG-PIB.

The work focuses on the development and optimisation of hydrometallurgical methods for recovering rare earth elements (REEs) from selected waste samples originating both from waste heaps and from current production streams. Particularly promising results have been obtained after applying preliminary thermal activation of the material through calcination. For selected samples, this enabled very satisfactory REE recovery levels, exceeding 80%.

This is an important step in assessing whether coal mining waste can become a real alternative source of critical raw materials for the European economy. The results obtained so far confirm the need for further process optimisation and show that appropriate material pretreatment can significantly improve the efficiency of REE recovery.

As part of the Waste2CRM project, we are imlementing important stage of technological research carried out within WP3: Evaluation of physical methods for obtaining initial concentrates of selected critical raw materials.

Under the leadership of Łukasiewicz – Instytut Metali Nieżelaznych , beneficiation tests of coal mining waste are being carried out using physical and physicochemical methods. The aim of these studies is to verify whether waste materials from coal mining can be used to obtain fractions enriched in selected critical raw materials, in particular rare earth elements – REEs.

This is one of the key steps in assessing whether mining waste can become a real alternative source of critical raw materials for the European economy. The results of the tests will help us better understand how REEs are associated within the investigated materials and determine whether preliminary beneficiation can improve the efficiency of subsequent recovery stages, including hydrometallurgical processes.

Waste is not always the end of the process – sometimes it can be the beginning of a new raw material value chain.

The workshops dedicated to Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) projects, held as part of KOMEKO 2026, are now behind us. RFCS is a European Union fund supporting research and innovation projects in the coal and steel sectors, aimed, among others, at contributing to the objectives of the European Green Deal and a just transition.

Among the initiatives presented during the workshop was the Waste2CRM project, focused on assessing the potential for recovering critical raw materials from mining waste and on developing methods for their efficient recovery.

Discover how our RFCS-funded project is exploring coal and lignite mining wastes as a new source of critical raw materials and developing methods for their efficient recovery. Enjoy the read!

On 23 September, at Kocierz Resort in Targanice, alongside the Mineral Engineering Conference 2025, we held a workshop for the Waste2CRM project – “Determination of the potential for acquiring critical raw materials from mining wastes and development of the method for their effective recovery.”

Participants had the opportunity to:
– learn about the importance of Critical Raw Materials (CRM) for the EU’s sustainable economic development and security,
– understand the challenges of limited availability and import dependence on third countries,
– hear about the European Commission’s response, including the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).

A key pathway to strengthen domestic CRM supply is the Waste2CRM initiative – recovering CRM from coal and lignite mining waste deposits.

During the workshop we presented the project concept, walked through the implementation stages, and shared the current status.
Many thanks to all attendees for the engagement and insightful questions!

MEC conferences series brings together voices from mineral engineering, recycling, and academia-specialists studying mineral resources – alongside research institutions, industry leaders, and mining authorities

You are warmly invited to attend the workshop of the project “Waste2CRM – Determination of the potential for acquiring critical raw materials from mining wastes and development of the method for their effective recovery”, co-funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel.

The workshop will cover the project’s scope in the context of the regulatory and economic framework related to critical raw materials (CRM) in EU countries. The project’s concept and origin will be presented, along with the importance of CRM for economic development, the planned activities, and the current status of their implementation.

More information about Mineral Engineering Conference MEC 2025 you can find here:
https://mecconference.pl

On July 2–3, 2025, the project meeting for “Determination of the potential for acquiring critical raw materials from mining wastes, and development of the method for their effective recovery” Waste2CRM – co-funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel – took place at Główny Instytut Górnictwa – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
All project partners were present:

• Główny Instytut Górnictwa – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy (host),
• Instytut Technologii Paliw i Energii (ITPE),
• Łukasiewicz – Instytut Metali Nieżelaznych (IMN),
• SYSTRA Subterra
• UPatras SEG

The meeting focused on reviewing the current progress of the project, presenting key conclusions from the implementation of Work Package 2 (WP2), and planning and coordinating the next stages of work.
A highlight of the meeting was a technical field trip to JSW KWK Budryk, the deepest active hard coal mine in Europe. Participants had the opportunity to observe the various stages of coking coal extraction and witness the challenging working conditions underground, including seeing a shearer in operation at the coal face.
For many attendees, it was their first-ever descent underground – and straight to a depth of 1290 meters! An unforgettable and eye-opening experience.
Thank you to all partners for your active contributions and continued collaboration!

Thanks to our host, the Central Mining Institute GIG for unforgettable memories!

We were pleased to take part in the annual joint meeting of the TGK1 & TGK2 Technical Groups, held under the EU’s Research Executive Agency (REA) within the RFCS – Research Fund for Coal and Steel.
The event was kindly hosted by the Technical Univewristy of Crete (Greece)

Alongside 11 European Research Executive Agency (REA) under the RFCS, we had the opportunity to:
🔹 Share insights on innovative technologies for resource recovery, post-mining land use, and industrial green transition
🔹 Join policy-oriented discussions on aligning research with the goals of the European Green Deal
🔹 Participate in a strategic roundtable on societal impact, industrial scalability, and cross-programme synergies

A valuable platform to exchange knowledge, build partnerships, and contribute to the sustainable transformation of Europe’s industrial landscape.

Many thanks to the whole organizing team for the smooth coordination and for creating such an engaging and collaborative atmosphere throughout the event!

As part of the European Waste2CRM project, funded under the RFCS program by the European Commission, members of the SYSTRA Subterra R&D team — Amanda Gomez Marfil and Beatriz García Bernabéu — visited the facilities of Fundación Santa Bárbara.
During the visit, they collected samples from two coal waste dumps located in Laciana and El Bierzo (León, Spain).
The Waste2CRM project focuses on valorizing coal waste by exploring its potential to contain critical raw materials and developing effective recovery methods.
Through applied engineering, we are advancing sustainability, circular economy principles, and the green transition.