Joaquín Proenza to Speak on Mineral Demand in the Energy Transition at the XVI SIMPOSIO
- The renowned geologist and academic will discuss how the energy transition is reshaping global demand for strategic minerals.
- His presentation will serve as the starting point for the panel “Mineral Demand in the Energy Transition Process and the Importance of Sustainability.”
Lima, January 2026. The SIMPOSIO – XVI International Mining Meeting will feature Joaquín Proenza, professor in the Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology at the University of Barcelona, who will deliver the keynote lecture for the panel “Mineral Demand in the Energy Transition Process and the Importance of Sustainability.”
In his presentation, Proenza will discuss how the global acceleration toward clean energy is driving an unprecedented demand for copper, nickel, cobalt, rare earths, and other metals essential for batteries, electromobility, and energy storage systems.
“Clean technologies require both more metals and mining practices that meet increasingly demanding environmental and social standards. The energy transition is not only technological; it is also mining-related,” Proenza stated.
His participation will provide a key technical perspective for the panel, which will examine the growing pressure for essential minerals and the need to assess their availability based on sustainability, governance, and environmental responsibility criteria. This perspective is key to understanding that the energy transition, in addition to reshaping production systems, also raises ethical and regulatory challenges for the mining sector.
Proenza is considered a leading authority in the geological and metallogenic analysis of strategic minerals. He has authored more than 130 scientific articles in indexed journals and has participated in more than 200 international conferences. He currently leads the research group Mineral Resources for the Energy Transition (MinResET – SGR-Cat2021), recognized by the Government of Catalonia as a consolidated research group, and has an extensive academic career closely linked to the study of critical mineral resources for clean technologies.
The SIMPOSIO – XVI International Mining Meeting will take place from May 26 to 28, 2026, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Lima, under the slogan “Mining that integrates, builds the present, and transforms the future”. It will bring together industry leaders, academics, government representatives, and members of the international community to discuss investment, sustainability, innovation, and a roadmap toward a modern and competitive mining sector.
