1
25-030
Empowering Community Engagements: Knowledge and
Sustainable Management of Critical Raw Materials
Md Ariful Islam
TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
Georg Meissner
TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
Jari Joutsenvaara
University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Karin Käär
Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
Marcin Szumny
KGHM CUPRUM sp. z o.o., Wrocław, Poland
Catalina Vrabie
Geonardo, Budapest, Hungary
Ossi Kotavaara
University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Leena Suopajärvi
University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
Helmut Mischo
TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
ABSTRACT
This study outlines implemented tactics and results for
community empowerment through participation in ques-
tionnaire surveys, educational programs, and discussion
on sustainable sourcing from new critical raw materials
(CRMs) projects. Utilising questionnaire surveys, includ-
ing the Public Participation Geographic Information
System (PPGIS), the research gathered public opinions
from Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Zambia, receiving
1,068 responses. These responses addressed various social,
economic, and environmental issues related to CRM proj-
ects. Feedback from educational courses with participants
from over 25 nations and public events provided additional
insights. The collected data and feedback offer crucial input
for advancing sustainable and responsible CRM sourcing
strategies in these regions.
INTRODUCTION
Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) are crucial to many high-
tech applications, such as advanced manufacturing, digi-
tal infrastructure, electric vehicles, and renewable energy
technologies (European Commission, 2020). In addition,
CRMs are essential for advancing technology, accomplish-
ing sustainability objectives, and lessening environmental
impact (Islam et al., 2024). In response to CRMs’ growing
importance in speeding up the world’s shift to greener, more
digitally-driven economies, the EU-funded AGEMERA
project, “Agile Exploration and Geo-Modelling for
European Critical Raw Materials,” intends to contribute to
achieving sustainability on the CRM value chain through
multi-core initiatives (Islam et al., 2023).
Ensuring responsible, sustainable, and secure supply
is essential in the EU. By providing a steady supply from
local and foreign sources of CRMs, the EU can become less
dependent on other competitive nations and gain greater
strategic autonomy (European Parliament, 2023). However,
potential and ongoing CRM projects face challenges like
price uncertainty, broken supply chains, and erroneous
reporting practices (Islam et al., 2022). Furthermore, the
social license to operate (SLO) or social license to explore
(SLE) plays a vital role in managing business risk during
responsible sourcing from potential new CRM projects.
Maintaining SLE and SLO is essential to comprehending
25-030
Empowering Community Engagements: Knowledge and
Sustainable Management of Critical Raw Materials
Md Ariful Islam
TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
Georg Meissner
TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
Jari Joutsenvaara
University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Karin Käär
Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
Marcin Szumny
KGHM CUPRUM sp. z o.o., Wrocław, Poland
Catalina Vrabie
Geonardo, Budapest, Hungary
Ossi Kotavaara
University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Leena Suopajärvi
University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
Helmut Mischo
TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
ABSTRACT
This study outlines implemented tactics and results for
community empowerment through participation in ques-
tionnaire surveys, educational programs, and discussion
on sustainable sourcing from new critical raw materials
(CRMs) projects. Utilising questionnaire surveys, includ-
ing the Public Participation Geographic Information
System (PPGIS), the research gathered public opinions
from Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Zambia, receiving
1,068 responses. These responses addressed various social,
economic, and environmental issues related to CRM proj-
ects. Feedback from educational courses with participants
from over 25 nations and public events provided additional
insights. The collected data and feedback offer crucial input
for advancing sustainable and responsible CRM sourcing
strategies in these regions.
INTRODUCTION
Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) are crucial to many high-
tech applications, such as advanced manufacturing, digi-
tal infrastructure, electric vehicles, and renewable energy
technologies (European Commission, 2020). In addition,
CRMs are essential for advancing technology, accomplish-
ing sustainability objectives, and lessening environmental
impact (Islam et al., 2024). In response to CRMs’ growing
importance in speeding up the world’s shift to greener, more
digitally-driven economies, the EU-funded AGEMERA
project, “Agile Exploration and Geo-Modelling for
European Critical Raw Materials,” intends to contribute to
achieving sustainability on the CRM value chain through
multi-core initiatives (Islam et al., 2023).
Ensuring responsible, sustainable, and secure supply
is essential in the EU. By providing a steady supply from
local and foreign sources of CRMs, the EU can become less
dependent on other competitive nations and gain greater
strategic autonomy (European Parliament, 2023). However,
potential and ongoing CRM projects face challenges like
price uncertainty, broken supply chains, and erroneous
reporting practices (Islam et al., 2022). Furthermore, the
social license to operate (SLO) or social license to explore
(SLE) plays a vital role in managing business risk during
responsible sourcing from potential new CRM projects.
Maintaining SLE and SLO is essential to comprehending