The Senate approves the raw materials bill, it is a law. Here’s what’s new – News

The decree on critical raw materials of strategic interest already approved by the Chamber on July 30 is law.

The Senate Chamber gave the definitive green light to the ordinance law by a show of hands.

Eighteen articles to relaunch Italian mines and advance the energy and digital transition without relying on countries like China or Congo. The raw materials legal order was changed into law by the vote in the Senate. The order introduces simplified procedures for the authorization processes of strategic projects to achieve the European objectives of the Critical Raw Materials Act.

For the 34 raw materials that the EU considers essential, the following must be achieved: extraction of at least 10% of the Union’s annual consumption, refining of at least 40%, recycling of at least 25% and importing from one country where it is not. more than 65%. A page from the Ministry of Industry and Made in Italy explains that the decree intervenes both on the demand side, with the study of national needs and the monitoring of supply chains, to which a technical committee permanent new deals, and on the supply side. .’ an offer. On this front, at the center is the National Research Program, which was created by ISPRA starting with updating the national mining map.

It must be completed by May 24, 2025 and renewed every 5 years. According to the Institute’s data, in Italy there are several deposits of essential raw materials such as lithium, copper or manganese, even if only two are currently produced: feldspar and fluorspar. Projects recognized as strategic by the European Commission will have access to specific contact points in ministries and fast track authors. The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for permits for extraction (in a maximum of 18 months) and recycling (within 10 months). Ministry of Enterprise for those undergoing change (within 10 months). To promote national projects and ensure supplies from third countries, the Made in Italy National Fund will also be involved, which will start at a billion euros and will also be encouraged by a new royalty system. The model for hydrocarbons, with royalties between 5 and 7% of the value of the product is to be shared between the State, which will reinvest in the Fund, and the Departments, which will be able to allocate them to compensation measures . for the regions. “Italy is at the forefront of Europe in obtaining the essential raw materials needed to accelerate the digital and green transition,” said Industry Minister Adolfo Urso. However, the governor of Sardinia, Alessandra Todde, has already announced that she will challenge the text at the Constitutional Court due to the possibility of the departments with a special statute in matters of quarries and mines. Sardinia had asked, without success, to prepare for the binding opinion of the Departments at national level and on the project approval process. According to Todde, the order undermines the Sardinians’ ability to “protect the environment and the landscape”.