A joint initiative by the European mineral raw materials industries
Welcomed by the European Commission
"The European Minerals Day is an excellent way to inform, educate and enthuse European citizens about the importance of the minerals sector in providing raw materials that are essential for so many everyday products. The sector is vital to Europe's competitiveness and its success is built on sound principles of sustainability and innovation." (European Commission 2008)
European Coordinators (Organisers):
IMA-Europe, the European Industrial Minerals Association
UEPG, the European Aggregates Association
CEMBUREAU, the European Cement Association
European Organisations supporting the initiative:
EMCEF (European Mine, Chemicals and Energy Workers Federation) (http://www.emcef.org/)
The European Minerals Foundation (www.europeanmineralsfoundation.org)
The European Federation of Geologists (www.eurogeologists.eu)
ELO (European Landowners Organisation) (www.elo.org)
Requests from the media should be directed to: Tom O'Connell of OCPR on Mobile: +32 475 69 15 60 or by E-mail.
National coordinators:
Austria
Fachverband der Keramischen Industrie Österreichs e.V. (www.baustoffindustrie.at) (Contact: Mr Wasserbacher / Dr Hennrich)
Belgium
Fortea / FEDIEX / FEBELCEM (Contact: Mr Schelstraete)
Czech Republic
Czech Lime Association (Contact: Mr Prokopec)
France
MI France (Minéraux Industriels France)(www.mi-france.fr) (Contact: Mrs Bonnet)
UP'Chaux (Union des Producteurs de la Chaux)
Germany
Bundesverband Keramische Rohstoffe und Industrieminerale e.V. (www.bkri-industrie.de) (Contact: Mr Schlotmann)
Bundesverband Kalk e.V. (www.kalk.de) (Contact: Mrs del Arte)
Greece
Greek Mining Enterprises Association (www.sme.gr) (Contact: Mr Kavalopoulos)
Italy
Assomineraria (www.assomineraria.org) (Contact: Ms Giardia)
Portugal
ANIET Association (Contact: Mr Geral)
Slovenia
Slovenian Geological Surveys (Contact: Mr Solar)
Spain
ANEFA (www.aridos.org)
Turkey
TCMA - Turkish Cement Manufacturers Association
United Kingdom
Silica and Moulding Sands Association (Member of MPA) (www.mineralproducts.org)
About IMA Europe
The European Industrial Minerals Association, IMA-Europe aisbl, was founded in 1993 to provide sector-based representation for industrial minerals and to promote the interests of its members: CCA-Europe (Calcium carbonates), EBA (borates), EuLA (lime & limestone), ESMA (andalusite, mica, sepiolite & vermiculite), EUBA (bentonite), EUROFEL (feldspar), EUROSIL (silica sand), EUROTALC (talc), IDPA (diatomite), KPC-Europe (kaolin & plastic clays). Under its umbrella, IMA-Europe represents about 500 quarries and 800 plants. IMA-Europe covers all issues related to industrial minerals except commercial ones. Health and safety at the workplace, environmental protection and product safety are some of IMA's top priority issues. IMA-Europe ensures that the industrial minerals industry at large benefits from the sharing of non-sensitive information and plays a supporting role in the promotion of best practices. The European Minerals Day was launched in 2007 at the initiative of IMA-Europe, as a multi-sectoral pan-European awareness raising event. For more information on IMA-Europe, please consult: www.ima-europe.eu.
About UEPG
UEPG stands for "Union Européenne des Producteurs de Granulats" (European Aggregates Association). Aggregates are a granular material used in construction. The most common natural aggregates of mineral origin are sand, gravel and crushed rock UEPG positively promotes the profile of the European Aggregates Industry and is the voice of UEPG Members in 26 European countries. The Industry produces 3 billion tonnes per year, comprises some 16,000 companies (mostly SMEs), producing at some 24,000 sites involving 300,000 employees (including contractors). UEPG vision is a Sustainable Industry for a Sustainable Europe. UEPG mission is to be the Industry Champion and a trusted Partner. Since 1987, UEPG has promoted the interests of the European Aggregates Industry by representing its National Member Associations on environmental and health & safety (two top priorities), economic and technical policy. Also, UEPG increasingly contributes to enhance biodiversity, by providing appropriate ecosystems for both fauna and flora during and after our extraction activity. UEPG objectives are supplying essential Building Materials, Retaining Jobs, Contributing to Europe’s Competitiveness, Partnering with Local Stakeholders, Contributing to Europe’s Heritage within a Sustainable Production. For more information on UEPG, please consult http://www.uepg.eu.
About CEMBUREAU
CEMBUREAU, the European Cement Association, based in Brussels, is the representative organisation of the cement industry in Europe. Today CEMBUREAU includes 28 Members (27 Full Members and 1 Associate Member). Currently, its Full Members are the national cement industry associations and cement companies of the European Union (with the exception of Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia) plus Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Croatia is an Associate Member of CEMBUREAU. In 2008, the production of cement in the CEMBUREAU 28 Member Countries amounted to 310 Mio t, representing about 11% of total world cement production (2.83 billion tonnes). CEMBUREAU Members directly employ approximately 72 000 people. For more information on CEMBUREAU, please consult: http://www.cembureau.eu.
