Sustainable use of mineral and energy resources

We focus on critical and strategic minerals, key to the green and digital transition and sustainable mineral management in line with European guidelines and legislation (Critical Raw Materials Act) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

We pursue the objectives of sustainable mineral management through our professional and scientific research activities, the evaluation of resources and reserves, the monitoring of production and use of mineral raw materials, and the operation of a public service for the mining of geological raw materials. In the extraction of mineral and energy raw materials, we support technologies that ensure as far as possible a green transition and minimise negative impacts on the environment.

In the field of non-metallic minerals, we work with industry to maximise self-reliance, public availability of data and the principles of open science in the publication of research results. We study and maintain knowledge on metallic mineral resources. We monitor global trends in the supply of metallic mineral raw materials, in particular critical raw materials, which are now becoming crucial for their use in modern technologies. Using modern research methods and state-of-the-art analytical techniques, we examine the extent to which these elements may also be present in Slovenia and neighbouring countries.

In the field of energy raw materials, we are working to maintain and improve our comprehensive knowledge of the deposits of these raw materials. We are involved in the international exchange of information on such deposits and respond to the demand for our knowledge from active mining installations.

Strategic objectives

1. conducting fundamental and applied research in the field of mineral and energy raw materials, with a focus on critical (CRM) and strategic mineral raw materials (StRM) throughout their life cycle.

2. Implementing, maintaining and upgrading mineral and energy commodity inventories for sustainable management in the light of the Green Transition.

3. Establish a European Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Resource Management at the GeoZS.

Activities

To achieve our strategic objectives, we are implementing the following activities: 

  • We maintain and improve our mineral-related core knowledge and regularly update our mineral-related maps.  
  • Updating the Continuous updating of the geological base map with information on mineral and energy resources, and updating and production of thematic maps of narrower and wider areas.  
  • We implement rresearch into the potential of different materials for use as secondary mineral raw materials - with a focus on secondary minerals from mining and ore processing and their CRM content.  
  • We are implementing the UNFC classification for natural resources.  
  • We operate a public mining service with a multi-year contract, in accordance with the Constitutive Act and the Mining Act-1.  
  • We are working to obtain a national research programme in the field of minerals.  
  • We are involved in defining and deciding on the criticality of minerals at EU level and in transferring acceptable practices to strategic partners outside the EU.  
  • We are working to establish a European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Resource Management in the field of minerals, based at GeoZS.  

Projects

Read the latest news

Events

Second Consultation on the preparation of the National Research Programme on Critical Mineral Resources, 8 April 2025

The GeoZS is responsible for the preparation of the Proposal for a National Programme for the General Exploration of Critical Raw Materials and Critical Raw Materials Carrier Minerals (hereinafter referred to as the "NRP"), which all Member States are required to prepare by May 2025 in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of...

14th International Conference of the Association for the Study of Marble and Other Rocks in Antiquity, Ljubljana, 15-20 September 2025

The 14th International Conference of the Association for the Study of Marble and Other Rocks in Antiquity will take place in Ljubljana from 15 to 20 September. More about the conference: https://asmosia14.si/domov/

27th Slovenian Geologists' Consultation, 4 April 2025

A consultation of Slovenian geologists will take place in Ljubljana on 4 April.More information: https://sites.google.com/geo.ntf.uni-lj.si/27-posvet-slovenskih-geologov

International Conference IRTC25: From Raw Material Policies to Practice, 19-21 February 2025

The International Round Table on Materials Criticality (IRTC), an international expert conference on the exchange of knowledge on critical raw materials, will take place in Ljubljana from 19 to 21 February. The conference will present the latest research in this field, industry representatives will present examples of different practices in companies,...