NEWS
Participation of Mineral Resources Experts at Mineral Forum 2025
This year’s professional conference, Mineral Forum 2025, brought together leading experts in construction, geology, infrastructure, and public administration in Zagreb under the theme “Sustainable Resource Management as the Foundation of Future Infrastructure.” The event was held under the auspices of the Croatian Geological Institute. The discussions focused on the economic prospects of the mining and raw materials sector, challenges in public procurement, and the sustainable management of mineral resources—resources that are essential for Croatia’s future development. It was emphasized that mineral resources form the basis of every road, building, and industrial facility, while also representing a key component of the green transition. Without mineral resources, there can be no circular economy, energy efficiency, or modern infrastructure. In accordance with the Mining Act, all regional self-government units are required to manage their territories in a way that ensures the sustainable management of mineral resources. Consequently, counties must prepare mining and geological studies to plan and manage the exploitation of specific mineral resources. Dr. Slobodan Miko highlighted that the study prepared for Varaždin County represents an exemplary model. The second revision of the study has been completed and is currently in its final phase. The study analyzes the most important raw materials for the county—construction stone, construction sand and gravel, and brick clay—by defining suitability zones, conflict zones, and protective buffer zones. Sustainable exploitation therefore requires close integration of mining-geological planning and spatial planning. Dr. Melita Srpak from the Varaždin County Institute for Spatial Planning emphasized that the County Spatial Plan already includes a dedicated chapter on the exploitation of mineral resources, representing a best-practice example that should be followed by other counties.
Over the past decade, the European Commission has embedded the green and digital transition of the European Union into its legislative framework, including geological exploration under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020 (CRMA). This requires the modernization and harmonization of national policies and classification systems. Erli Kovačević Galović from the Croatian Geological Survey presented the application of the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) in Croatia. She explained that the UNFC is a key element of the CRMA, strengthening the European value chain from exploration to recycling. Croatia is therefore working to align its national mineral resource classification with this international framework. Currently, each country applies its own classification system, which hinders data comparability. The UNFC introduces a modern approach that incorporates sustainability, technical feasibility, and data reliability—criteria that are essential for investors, European institutions, and strategic projects.
Dr. Nikolina Ilijanić from the Croatian Geological Survey emphasized that mineral resources are among the key strategic assets of the European Union, particularly for the green and digital transition, as well as for defense and aerospace applications. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, platinum, gallium, tellurium, and tin are just some of the critical raw materials showing a significant imbalance between projected global demand and available supply. The list of critical raw materials is regularly reviewed every three years. In her presentation, Dr. Ilijanić addressed Croatia’s geological potential for the exploitation of critical mineral raw materials. She referred to historical exploitation activities and recorded deposits based on the Basic Geological Map of the Republic of Croatia and the Mineral Resources Map of Croatia, noting that these deposits currently have no confirmed economic significance. The exploitation of metallic mineral resources was discontinued in the 1950s due to low reserves and low metal concentrations, which rendered extraction economically unviable at the time. Although Croatia is not close to active exploitation—considered a long-term objective—geological exploration remains a key and mandatory prerequisite for any future development. The state has a responsibility to reassess existing geological potential and, through new targeted exploration supported by appropriate funding, establish a foundation for concrete projects that could become attractive to investors and contribute to Croatia’s sustainable economic development. A systematic assessment of the geological potential of critical mineral raw materials is required before any concrete mining interest can emerge.
In addition to the presentations, experts from the Croatian Geological Survey participated in a panel discussion titled “Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources in the Republic of Croatia,” together with Dr. Dragan Krasić, Dr. Ivo Galić (Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, University of Zagreb), and Dr. Melita Srpak (Varaždin County Institute for Spatial Planning).
More information about Mineral Forum 2025 is available at the following links::
https://www.construction.hr/novosti/pogledajte-kako-je-bilo-na-mineral-forumu-2025/a/11196
Dr. Slobodan Miko during his presentation at Mineral Forum 2025
Erli Kovačević Galović during her presentation at Mineral Forum 2025.
Participants during the panel discussion on sustainable management of mineral resources in the Republic of Croatia at Mineral Forum 2025.
Participants of Mineral Forum 2025: Dr. Slobodan Miko, Erli Kovačević Galović, and Dr. Željko Dedić.