[National and International Aspects of Austrian Mining]. / Der österreichische Bergbau: Nationale und internationale Aspekte.

The security of supply of mineral raw materials is an indispensable basis for a flourishing economy. In order to ensure this and to be able to react to current challenges, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism published its raw materials strategy called "Masterplan Mineral Resources 2030" at the end of 2021. The goals of the European Green Deal can be achieved with innovative key technologies that are directly linked with the input of raw materials. The increasing demand for mineral resources is already reflected by production statistics. The world mining production has increased by almost 60% since 2000 to an all-time high of around 17.9 billion tonnes in 2019. It is remarkable that Europe is the only continent with a declining production rate over the last twenty years. It is very likely that Oceania, especially Australia, will produce more mineral raw materials than Europe in 2020. Most commodity prices have increased significantly in the last year and the growing demand for the use of resources in future technologies will probably lead to high commodity prices in the future. The aim of the European Union is to build and strengthen the resilience of its economy by promoting mining activities and circular economy as well as the diversification of supply chains while always respecting the terms of the Sustainable Development Goals.

[Masterplan Raw Materials 2030-A Raw Materials Strategy for Austria]. / Masterplan Rohstoffe 2030 ­ Eine Rohstoffstrategie für Österreich.

The sufficient and responsible supply of mineral resources at fair market conditions is an essential basis for Austria's economic development. Although the geological availability of raw materials is relatively high, disruptions due to geopolitical, economic, or circumstances such as pandemics or natural disasters can lead to a shortage of mineral resources. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic relentlessly shows the vulnerability in a globalised world with complex dependencies and widely ramified value chains. It reveals questions about the security of supply not only for products of daily use but also for basic materials that are urgently needed for the processing industry. The transformation of energy systems, mobility, and the decarbonisation of industry is closely linked to the availability of mineral raw materials. The Master Plan Raw Materials 2030 proposes solutions to respond to the challenges of this decade and to ensure Austria's secure supply of primary and secondary mineral raw materials from Austria and abroad. With a comprehensive package of measures, the Master Plan lays the foundation for Austria's resilient development.