From 25 to 27 November 2025, HEPHAESTUS was represented at the 12th PROMETIA Scientific Seminar in Naples, Italy. The event was organised by PROMETIA and hosted by ENCO Engineering and Consulting.
The annual seminar brought together experts, researchers and industry professionals from across Europe to discuss developments in extractive metallurgy, mineral processing and critical raw materials. It provided an open and technically focused space to exchange knowledge and reflect on how to strengthen Europe’s resilience in the raw materials sector.
The first day of the seminar focused on Strategic Projects under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, presenting initiatives across extraction, processing and recycling. Discussions covered the full spectrum, from early stage research to industrial deployment, with emphasis on responsible and innovative approaches along the value chain.
The second day explored technical insights from METNET and LabNET, highlighting pilot plant innovations and collaborative laboratory developments that support technology upscaling.
Within this framework, HEPHAESTUS contributed through a presentation by Thomas Abo Atia from Solvomet KU Leuven. He presented the latest progress and key outcomes of the AAC flowsheet developed within the project. His work focuses on hydrometallurgical processes for the selective extraction of zinc from electric arc furnace dust and other secondary raw materials. Zinc recovery is one of the core technological components of HEPHAESTUS, and the seminar provided an opportunity to share these results with a specialised audience.
Prior to the event, the draft presentation was circulated among HEPHAESTUS partners for consultation and feedback. This internal review process ensured that the content accurately reflected the project’s progress and maintained high technical quality. It also demonstrated the collaborative spirit within the consortium.
Participation in the PROMETIA Scientific Seminar strengthened the visibility of HEPHAESTUS within the European raw materials community. It allowed the project to position its technical developments in a broader strategic context and to receive valuable input from experts working on similar challenges.
HEPHAESTUS represents an innovative collaborative effort to transform steelmaking byproducts into valuable secondary raw materials. By recovering metals such as zinc from EAF dust, the project reduces landfill disposal, improves circularity in the metallurgical sector and contributes to Europe’s strategic autonomy in critical raw materials.
Engagement in events such as the PROMETIA seminar is essential for ensuring that research outcomes are discussed, challenged and further improved. It is through this continuous exchange that innovative processes move closer to real industrial implementation and support a more resilient European raw materials ecosystem.