‘It’s Russian roulette’: alarm as Europe backs critical minerals mines in water-stressed regions

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The European Commission plans to amend the EU's water protection law to speed up critical minerals mining in drought-affected areas, despite concerns about water use in water-stressed regions. Mining demands exacerbate pressure on rivers, aquifers, and water supplies, raising environmental and health concerns amid resource scarcity.

Exclusive: European Commission planning to rewrite key law to allow water-intensive mines in regions suffering from drought The European Commission plans to rewrite the EU’s flagship water protection law to speed up the development of critical minerals mines, despite many being located in drying and water-stressed regions, analysis has found. Mining is a water-intensive industry, requiring large volumes of water for ore processing, dust suppression, waste management and mine dewatering. While modern projects recycle water, they still require significant amounts, and in water-stressed regions those demands can add to pressure on already stretched rivers, aquifers and water supplies. Continue reading...