PRIM-ROCK addresses process efficiency through a multifaceted strategy addressing industrial processes from input to output, supported by an ambitious digital framework and transversal supporting activities. In particular, advanced techniques for the pre-processing of the raw material will be deployed to enhance its efficiency according to the requirements of the process, supplemented by simulations and decision support systems to increase the operational limits of flexibility in the feedstock domain. Additionally, the process intensification component of the project will design, develop, and validate innovative and efficient processes, as well as optimizing the existing ones. The aim is to develop a portfolio of technologies to a higher resource efficiency and lower level of GHG emissions of extractive industries. The project will focus on improving the resource efficiency of the calcination and roasting processes, that are commonly used in the mineral and cement industries. To this end, process simulations in collaboration with AI data-driven models will be utilized and a digital twin for each process will be developed. Finally, waste reduction and re-utilization strategies will be investigated targeting to the real-time processes’ adjustment capabilities to feedstock changes and tighter processing control solutions. All these components will be supplemented by transversal supporting activities, such as technoeconomic assessment, LCA, standardization etc. The PRIM-ROCK solutions will be demonstrated in 3 different ASPIRE sectors, namely Minerals (magnesite, laterite), Cement (limestone) and Non-ferrous metals (sphalerite, chalcopyrite). The consortium is composed of 7 SMEs along with 6 RTDs, 3 universities and 5 large enterprises, working together to achieve over 30% resource efficiency enhancement in each use-case, 770ktCO2 averted, productivity increase in the range 9-16% and more that 1,360 new jobs by 2033.

Vision: The SIMS project aspires to create a long lasting impact on the way we test and demonstrate new technology and solutions for the mining industry. With a selected consortium ranging from mining companies, equipment and system suppliers to top-class universities, the SIMS project will boost development and innovation through joint activities aiming at creating a sustainable intelligent mining system. SIMS aims to develop, test and demonstrate new innovative technologies within the designated consortium, consisting of well developed mining operations, selected due to their maturity regarding innovative technologies, world-leading equipment and system suppliers, highly specialized SMEs and top-class universities. The consortium origins in the EIT Raw Materials partnership, and has joined for this proposal due to the common challenges and needs. Objectives: Efficiency - To increase resource efficiency and competitiveness Safety - To reduce the risk of rock falls and exposure of workers to hazardous situations Environment -To minimize environmental impact of mining operations Trust - To increase public trust, awareness and acceptance for mining. How: We address the call intelligent mining on land and aim to develop, test and demonstrate relevant technologies all aiming at realizing the vision of the intelligent mining system. To meet the project vision and support EU strategies as outlined in the call we have addressed the project objectives by selecting pilot test areas and tests that will support this. Relevance: Specific challenge Raw materials “Innovative pilot actions”: We will bring the most innovative new products in the area of mining and test these in a real life environment in the selected test mines. Addressing actions stated in: EIP-SIP Raw Materials Technology pillar 1A (priority area raw material research and innovation coordination), 1B (technology area for primary and secondary raw materials production).

NEXGEN-SIMS will be focusing on scale-up of promising technologies and demonstrating their potential at several large scale mining pilots, which will provide the mining industry the necessary means of addressing the future challenges in sustainable mining while at the same time NEXGEN-SIMS will be creating incitements and lowering the risk for investments associated with upgrading, retrofitting and replacing existing investments with carbon neutral technologies as well as introduction of new innovative solutions based on industrial IoT. Many fears that introduction of new and radical production systems (in our case, digitalization in combination with carbon-neutral mining systems) are associated with high investment costs that will make the European mining industry less competitive even though the facts clearly indicates the complete opposite. With NEXGEN-SIMS we intend to demonstrate that utilization of innovative solutions based on new implementations of cost-efficient connectivity can enable better monitoring, analytics, optimization and process control (primarily for the mining fleets), and that connectivity can enable introduction of new and improved optimization and automatization strategies of the unit operations associated with the material handling processes by means of carbon-neutral mining systems. The estimated potential with NEXGEN-SIMS in terms of increased productivity is large and has been estimated to be as high as 40%, which will contribute considerably to securing the existing raw materials production in Europe as well as securing the future supply and lead to unlocking of substantial reserves of new or of today unexploited resources.