Mining Regions and Cities Case of Andalusia, Spain
Andalusia is the largest mining producer in Spain, the second-largest copper producer in the EU and a leader in marble and gypsum production. The region benefits from two distinct mining subsectors, each with a rich network of suppliers that are relevant for local development: the metallic mining sector (e.g. copper and zinc), which accounts for most of the regional mining production, and the non-metallic sector (ornamental rocks, aggregates and industrial minerals), which is highly dispersed across the territory. The regional mining value chain has the potential to leverage the increasing global and EU demand for sustainable raw materials and thus become a frontrunner in leading technologies and circular processes for environmentally sustainable mining. This study identifies how Andalusia can build on its strengths and address current and future challenges to improve regional productivity and well-being while accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy and assisting EU climate goals.
Executive summary
Andalusia is a growing player in the European mining sector, with the potential to become a frontrunner in environmentally sustainable mining and to reduce its income and employment gap with the rest of Spain. Andalusia is the southernmost region of Spain, with the largest population and second-largest land area in the country. It is the lead mining region in Spain (38.6% of mining production), the second-largest copper producer in Europe and a leader in marble and cement production. The region’s location in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), encompassing Seville and Huelva through to Southern Portugal, represents a global asset when it comes to metallic minerals. Within the region, Huelva is the main mining (TL3) region, carrying out 70% of the region’s metallic mining.