The 8^th International Forum on Mineral Resources in Greece took place on Friday, June 1, 2018, at the King George Hotel, in Athens, Greece, organized by Symeon G. Tsomokos S.A.

It is one of the most important annual events on Mining and Raw Materials in Greece, addressing all essential issues of the Raw Materials Sector and focusing on the significant contribution of the Mineral Resources to the development of the Greek economy.

Before the conference, a Leaders Breakfast Meeting was held during which important guests discussed the crucial issues of the sector in Greece:

The mining industry can play a leading role in the growth of the Greek economy and help the country overcome the crisis that has plagued it in recent years.

It is indicative that the mining industry accounts for the 3% of the country’s GDP and that Greece has more gold in its territory than in the Treasury of the Bank of Greece.

If the mining industry is appropriately addressed, it can attract enormous investment and create thousands of jobs.

The Conference began with the presentation of the main conclusions of the Leaders Breakfast:

• It is necessary that the Greek State takes initiative for the implementation of actions for the development of the mining industry, such as the creation of a Mining Council and the development of a spatial environmental planning.
• Ensuring the role of the mining industry in the holistic development program.
• Education – informing local communities, more transparent environmental processes.
• The development of new innovative technologies that help reduce operational costs and create more commercial and added-value products.
• The highest production value of the finished product through processing.
• The lack of confidence of citizens towards the State, that it can protect the environment as well as themselves.
• Initiatives to reduce the environmental footprint of companies.
• It is essential for companies to integrate environmental and climate change into their strategic development, affecting also the production processes

Mr. S. Famelos, Deputy Minister of the Environment, made the official opening of the conference with his speach.

The Conference continued with the three panel discussions. The main conclusions were that Europe is open to the mining industry, there are several challenges that need to be resolved, there is a need to update legislation and develope new innovative technologies, and put effort on how local communities and the extractive industry can coexist harmoniously.

DISCUSSION I – IS EUROPE OPEN FOR MINING? IS THE REGION OPEN FOR MINING?

Mark Rachovides, President, Euromines

Gwenole Cozigou, Director, DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission

Milan Parivodic, Principal, Parivodic Lawyers, Serbia

Andor Lips, Vice-President, Government Relations, Eldorado Gold Group of Companies

Chair: Symeon Tsomokos, Managing Director, SGT SA

DISCUSSION II – MINERAL RESOURCE POLICIES, REGULATIONS AND INVESTMENTS UPDATE

Athanasios Kefalas, President, Greek Mining Enterprises Association

Christos Boukoros, Member of Parliament, New Democracy Party

Nikolaos Vettas, General Director, Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research, and Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Bo Krogvig, Senior Vice President, LKAB

Chair: Alexia Tasouli, Diplomatic correspondent, 24 Media

DISCUSSION III – ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A SOCIAL LICENSE TO OPERATE

Kyriakos Assimakopoulos, Raw materials & Mining Manager, HERACLES Group of Companies | member of LafargeHolcim

Rebecca Batmanoglou, Director of Directorate of Climate Change & Air Quality, Ministry of Environment, Energy & Climate Change

Maria Lazarimou, Communications Director, Hellenic Production – Industry Roundtable for Growth

Vasili Nicoletopoulos, Founder, Natural Resources PC

Katerina Adam, Associate Professor of the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens

Chair: Alexia Tasouli, Diplomatic correspondent, 24 Media

Hellas Gold S.A., DEI (HELLENIC PUBLIC POWER CORPORATION S.A – HPPC) and Imerys sponsored the event.