HEPHAESTUS partner Solvomet KU Leuven participated in the European Raw Materials Week 2025 in Brussels from 17 to 21 November. The week gathered representatives from EU institutions, industry, governments, academia and civil society to discuss one key question: how to secure a sustainable and resilient supply of raw materials for Europe.

Raw materials may represent only around 1 per cent of the EU’s GDP directly, but they generate about 15 percent through their role in industrial value chains. This clearly shows how strategic they are for Europe’s competitiveness and long-term stability.

This year, the discussions focused on making Europe more attractive for investment in extraction, processing and recycling. Many speakers stressed the need for faster permitting, stronger and more integrated value chains, and more realistic industrial policies. High energy prices and geopolitical tensions were mentioned as serious challenges. At the same time, there was strong agreement that Europe cannot delay building robust industrial capacity.

A keynote speech was delivered by Koen Binnemans, main PI of Solvomet KU Leuven and an internationally recognised expert in sustainable hydrometallurgy. He addressed the difficulty of scaling new metallurgical technologies from lab to industry. Economic risks, regulatory complexity and conservative investment climate often slow down innovation. It is not only about science. It is also about system and confidence.

For Solvomet KU Leuven, participation in Raw Materials Week is important to stay aligned with European policy developments, especially regarding the Critical Raw Materials Act. Understanding where regulation and funding are moving helps to ensure that research activities remain relevant and impactful.

The discussions strongly connect with the goals of the HEPHAESTUS project. HEPHAESTUS represents an innovative collaborative effort to transform steelmaking byproducts into valuable secondary raw materials. By recovering these resources, the project helps reduce landfill waste, promote circularity in the metallurgical industry, and contribute to Europe’s strategic autonomy in critical raw materials.

HEPHAESTUS demonstrates this in practical terms. First, it reduces the need for virgin raw materials. Around 8.6 kilotons of metal alloys can be recycled back into the steel industry, and about 10 kilotons of non-renewable minerals such as silica sand, basalt and limestone can be saved in mineral wool production. Materials that would normally be lost become valuable input.

Second, it delivers significant energy savings. By using slag that is already molten and avoiding new raw material production, the project reduces energy consumption by approximately 1.6·10⁴ MWh. In mineral wool production, each ton produced through the HEPHAESTUS route saves an estimated 2 to 4·10⁴ MWh. This has clear environmental and economic benefits.

Third, it enables recovery and direct recycling of critical raw materials. All metals present in EAF and OAD dusts, including tungsten, vanadium and silicon, can be reintegrated into new alloys. Even without separating each element individually, the process strengthens circularity and supply security.

Raw materials policy in Europe is increasingly focused on resilience, sustainability and secure value chains. HEPHAESTUS shows that these objectives are achievable in real industrial context. Through both research and active presence at strategic events like the European Raw Materials Week, Solvomet KU Leuven contributes to building a stronger and more confident raw materials future for Europe.