The Galician Regional Government has given the green light to the 2030 Galician Agenda for Sustainable Mining, a new tool that will be the roadmap for the modernisation of the industry's main value chains. The document has been approved by the sector and seeks, in the words of the president of the Galician Regional Government, Alfonso Rueda, "to strengthen its competitiveness in a sustainable way and turn mining into a strategic ally of other key industries in the Community".

Currently, mining has an annual production of more than 246 million euros, which represents 10% of the national mining production and in which Galicia is the national leader in materials such as slabs, granite, quartz or ornamental rocks.

The Galician Agenda for Sustainable Mining will be given 32 million euros until 2024 to ensure that the ecological and digital transition process is sustainably supplied with local raw materials. In this context, the mineral raw material industry plays a key role as a supplier of strategic sectors in Galicia, which will help it move towards a new industrial model based on a decarbonised and digitalised economy, such as the automotive, textile, electronics or construction industries.

The roadmap for the Galician mining industry lays out three strategic objectives, nine lines of action and a total of 29 specific measures that respond to the needs of the sector in terms of digitalisation, training and innovation. The three objectives are to achieve the modernisation and growth of the Galician mining sector in a sustainable manner; to strengthen human talent and social responsibility; and to achieve environmental integration, promote the circular economy and enhance mining heritage.

Lines of action

As for the main lines of action, the first aim is to make progress in the digitalisation of the mining administration to favour both processing and accessibility, as well as to promote digital work plans and the Galician mining administration portal.

Secondly, the digitalisation of companies and innovation will be promoted. To this end, economic incentives are planned for SMEs in the field of technological modernisation and the improvement of industrial safety through 4.0 technologies, as well as the creation of an office for the attraction, coordination and monitoring of European research, innovation and modernisation funds.

The third line of action focuses on improving sectoral sustainability through economic incentives, and also on seeking financing to promote mining restoration and tourism activities. This line of action also includes the promotion of the mineral and thermal water sector and the promotion of sustainable mining management systems and green economy.

Fourthly, we will focus on the valuation of ecological resources by promoting the study, exploration and technical research of natural, geological and mining resources, as well as research into critical matters existing in Galicia and their potential.

The fifth line of action focuses on economic valuation through actions such as the creation of a permanent working group with strategic sectors or the creation of a portfolio containing the natural resources available in Galicia.

The sixth line of action foresees the implementation of measures to improve occupational health and safety through incentives to promote technological projects that help reduce accidents and other aspects related to occupational risk prevention.

The seventh line of action relates to human capital through the improvement of training with novelties such as the implementation of new medium technical cycles in excavation and drilling and natural stone; equality through a training and access plan for women in the extractive industries sector; as well as the incorporation of young people. 

The last two lines of action are focused on communication and dissemination through forums; and on governance, with the creation of an executive committee for mining development, among other aspects.

All these measures aim to support a strategic sector in the Community, as well as to reinforce its social value, since the SMEs and the families that form it have a major role and a multiplying effect on the economy and employment in rural areas, helping to consolidate the population.