Industry

Critical raw materials: Sardinia seeks a balance between land reclamation and the reopening of a mine

Emanuele Cani, Regional Councillor for Industry: “The island plays a central role in the country’s industrial and mining policies, combining environmental sustainability, innovation, research and economic development”

by Davide Madeddu

9 October 2026

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3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

In Sardinia, the process of making the most of critical strategic raw materials begins with the remediation of landfill sites and the treatment of waste from disused mining operations, as well as a mine currently being brought back into operation.

Two parallel strands formed the focus of the visit carried out in recent weeks by a delegation comprising technical and managerial staff from Mimit, Mase, Ispra and the Regional Department for Industry to four sites in Sardinia: Monteponi, Portovesme, Montevecchio and Silius.

It is in these areas that the battle over critical strategic materials and the circular economy is being fought, where the remediation of land – which is still burdened by industrial waste from the last century – becomes an opportunity to recover new raw materials.

“Thanks to the Urbes project (‘Urban Mining and Extractive Waste Information System’), funded by the NRRP – as highlighted by the MIMIT – mining residues, estimated at around 70,000,000 cubic metres in Sardinia, will be put to good use through the recovery of iron, lead, zinc and rare earths, whilst simultaneously addressing the social and health issues associated with the mobilisation of pollutants’. The main mineral deposits, as highlighted by the authors of a regional study, ‘consist of lead, zinc, silver, copper, antimony, fluorite and coal’.

The areas concerned

One of the areas of greatest interest is Monteponi, on the outskirts of the town of Iglesias. This area is considered to be of historical and scenic importance to the region due to the mining residues left behind by past extraction activities. Then there is Masua, a mining site overlooking the sea, and Montevecchio, where work is beginning on the reclamation and restoration of degraded areas. The processing of mining waste will enable the recovery of critical materials and, in some cases, even rare earth elements – that is, some of the 17 elements on the periodic table ranging from scandium to lutetium.

Waste with a solid content of up to 6 per cent

According to initial studies on environmental characterisation, mineral content levels of up to 6 per cent have been recorded in processing residues. This figure is lower than that found in mining operations but is considered satisfactory, not least because the material is ready for processing at the plant. This process eliminates the need for all the mining operations (and associated costs) that take place before and after extraction. Among the other elements being studied – for which the Region has allocated €4.5 million – are germanium, indium and other elements that form part of the so-called rare earths.

The role of Portovesme

In this context, the Portovesme industrial and metallurgical complex (the focus of the delegation’s visit), which is still in operation and specialises in the processing of non-ferrous metals, also plays a significant role: “Cutting-edge projects will be implemented here focusing on the recycling of lithium batteries,” emphasises the Ministry of Economic Development, “the recovery of high-purity bismuth and the utilisation of historical mining residues.”

Back in the mine

And then there is the return to mining with the reactivation of the Silius site, in which over 30 million euros have been invested. Mineraria Gerrei has a plan in place to revitalise the fluorite deposit, a resource considered strategic for various industrial sectors and for European supply objectives. Once production at the mine is up and running at full capacity, it will be capable of meeting 4 per cent of the EU’s fluorite requirements on its own. On the horizon – though this is still under consideration – there could also be potential in the rare-earth sector. The reopening is imminent, not least because work is currently underway to upgrade the facilities at one of the island’s historic mines.

“Sardinia possesses a mining, industrial and scientific heritage that is unique within Italy. ‘Discussions with Mimit, Mase and Ispra,’ emphasises Emanuele Cani, Regional Councillor for Industry, ‘confirm the increasingly central role that the island can play in the country’s industrial and mining policies, combining environmental sustainability, innovation, research and economic development.’