Larnaca, Cyprus. Reducing environmental impacts while improving supply security is creating new opportunities for Cyprus, particularly in waste management, material recovery and the sustainable use of resources, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said on Thursday.
Raw materials and Europe’s transition
Speaking at a business forum in Larnaca titled “Why we need minerals”, organised by the Cyprus Quarries Association and the Greek Mining Enterprises Association under the auspices of the Cyprus presidency of the Council of the European Union, Panayiotou said raw materials and minerals were central to Europe’s green transition and digital transformation.
“Raw materials and minerals are no longer simply essential industrial inputs,” she said. “They are at the core of our green transition, our digital transformation, as well as the overall strength and resilience of our economies.”
The minister said minerals play a critical role across almost every aspect of modern life, from renewable energy and electric vehicles to construction, telecommunications and advanced manufacturing.
“They are essential if we want to achieve the European Union’s climate goals and remain competitive in an increasingly complex global environment,” she added.
Supply risks and Cyprus geology
Panayiotou also warned that growing dependence on minerals creates new challenges linked to geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, environmental concerns and rising global demand.
“This new reality requires a coordinated and forward-looking approach, both at European and national level,” she said.
According to the minister, Europe is being called upon to strengthen secure, sustainable and diversified supply chains for critical raw materials, noting that access to and management of these resources would directly affect the bloc’s ability to innovate and lead in clean technologies.
Referring to Cyprus, Panayiotou highlighted the island’s long mining history dating back thousands of years and its internationally known copper deposits linked to the Troodos ophiolite.
“The abundance and high quality of these deposits made Cyprus an important copper production centre in the ancient world,” she said, adding that the island’s geology played a major role in shaping both its history and international significance.