The Copper (Cu) industry sector has been in the need of exploiting low Cu quality deposits with high impurities as most of the existing mines are near to an end-exploitation, which offers the opportunity to be used as well as secondary sources of raw and critical materials. This is the case of Zinc (Zn). Zn is a base-metal in the Europe´s strategy to shift away from today’s fossil fuels system towards clean energy technologies1 . By 2050, Europe will require new demand equivalent to 11% of Zn today’s consumption for manufacturing of electric vehicles, electricity networks, solar panels, and hydrogen. Recycling provides between 40% and 55% of Europe’s Zn supply. However, in the wake of supply disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s lack of resilience for its growing metals such as Zn, needs have become a strategic concern. To meet demand, it is crucial that attention shifts to secondary sources of Zn as the by-products generated during Cu primary production which is a target of this project.
Sinergia-Innovación Project 2023
