Carne Cruda #1520 — Vuelve la minería: transición verde no tan verde

Podcast Date: 28 de mayo de 2025
Host: Carne Cruda
Colaboración: Amigas de la Tierra

Overview: Main Theme and Purpose

This episode of Carne Cruda delves into the increasing demand and controversy surrounding "critical minerals"—materials essential for green technologies like electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and digital devices. The show investigates the paradoxes and consequences of the so-called "green transition," addressing its environmental, social, economic, and geopolitical costs, especially as Europe launches a new mining boom and reactivates extraction in rural "sacrifice zones." The episode features in-depth contributions from experts, activists, and affected community members, with a particular focus on Spain's emergence as a mining hotspot.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

What Are Critical Minerals?

• Intro & Definitions [00:00–05:00]
  The hosts kick off with street interviews revealing general public ignorance about "critical minerals." Experts clarify that the term refers to minerals vital for the economy and technological transition but scarce, geopolitically concentrated, and environmentally costly ([06:14], Adriana Espinosa).

• Official Categorization [06:14-07:43]

  • The EU has a list of 34 critical minerals.
  • "Strategic minerals" are a subset—17 vital for energy transition, digitalization, and military industries ([06:14], Adriana Espinosa):

    “Esta categoría... la Unión Europea dice que tiene que conseguir sí o sí y garantizar su suministro, entre otras cosas, extrayendo más minerales de dentro de Europa. Pero ojo, sin dejar de extraer minerales de fuera de Europa.”

Geopolitics, Supply, and "Green" Paradoxes

• Global Distribution & Risks [07:43–11:22]

  • Most critical minerals sourced outside Europe: China (rare earths), Latin America (lithium), Africa (cobalt), Asia (various).
  • The EU and US are heavily dependent and engaged in securing supply chains.

• Transition As Excuse for Mining Boom [08:51, Adriana Espinosa]

  “En mi opinión, están usando la excusa de la transición energética para avanzar en ese boom minero... El gran devorador de minerales aquí es el coche eléctrico, el vehículo privado eléctrico.”

• Limits of Planetary Resources [11:22–12:44]

  • Not a geological limit, but a limit of accessible, high-quality deposits. Increasing extraction means higher energy, water, and environmental costs ([11:22], Alicia Valero):

    “No es una cuestión tanto de cantidad como de calidad. Esta demanda está creando presiones enormes en los yacimientos.”

Mining and Military: Shared Dependencies

• Minerals for War and Clean Energy [15:48–32:53]

  • Many critical minerals are needed for both renewable technologies and military hardware.

  • EU/NATO documents increasingly view interruption of supplies as a security/military issue ([28:15], Teresa de Fortuna):

    “En uno de estos documentos se dice sin ningún escrúpulo que las instrucciones de la cadena de suministro de ... recursos esenciales para los Estados miembros se podría considerar como una amenaza y recibir una respuesta armada.”

  • The military sector may end up prioritized over civil/renewable sectors for access to key materials.

• Supply Chain Monopolies and Value [24:41, Alicia Valero]

  "El precio del concentrado es mucho menor que el precio del refinado ... China ha llevado una política de dominar también los lugares donde se extraen esas materias primas... la relocalización es ahora la respuesta de Europa.”

Case Study: The Spanish Mining Boom

• Spain as Strategic Mining Hub [33:04–39:43]

  • Six of Europe’s 47 strategic mining projects are in Spain ([39:08-39:15], Alicia Valero & Lucía Bárcena).
  • Extremadura's ‘Las Navas de Cañaveral’ lithium mine: designated as strategic despite community opposition and high environmental costs ([34:27], Elvira Díaz).

    "Esta zona sería una zona de sacrificio para que otras personas en las ciudades tengan energía."

  • Locals fear contamination, loss of water, air and soil degradation, expropriation, and rural depopulation.

• Criticism of “Green Mining”

  • Activists and experts dispute the “sustainability” of these operations:

    “No hay ninguna mina verde, no hay ninguna mina sostenible. Contaminan el aire, el suelo y el agua.” ([38:27], Elvira Díaz)

• Social Manipulation and Lack of Participation [42:05, Adriana Espinosa]

  • Companies deploy “insurgencia corporativa”—buying influence, stoking local divides, and circumventing democratic consultation.

Myths and Realities of "Clean" or "Modern" Mining

• No Such Thing as Fully Clean Mining [44:15, Alicia Valero]

  “La minería per se nunca es sostenible... Obviamente hay formas mucho menos agresivas, pero los impactos siempre están ahí.”

Labor, Legal, and Social Consequences

• Weakening of Labor and Environmental Protections [45:34–48:00]
  • Outdated laws (Spain’s 1973 Mining Law) and expedited permits marginalize environmental review and local voices ([46:01], Mariano Sanz).
  • Mining jobs are hazardous and often concentrated in short, destructive phases.

What Can Be Done? Solutions and Hope

• Democracy and De-Growth [50:27–54:40]

  • Experts call for more democracy (“más democracia y no menos democracia”) and consumption reduction for a just transition.

  • Europe must reassess its over-consumption (6% of population, 30% of metals consumed).

  • Policies like extending the lifespan of devices, recycling, and improving the circular economy can halve the need for new mining ([52:42], Alicia Valero):

    “Duplicar la vida de los teléfonos móviles... tiene un impacto brutal en comparación con el impacto simplemente de reciclar.”

• Community and Legal Actions [53:27, Lucía Bárcena]

  • Civil society is mobilizing to contest “strategic” mining projects at the European Commission.

    “Estamos iniciando una especie de acción legal... para pedir que se eliminen estos proyectos.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Green Transition as a Mining Excuse:

  • [08:51] Adriana Espinosa:

    “Nos están diciendo que todo es para la transición energética cuando eso es simplemente mentira... el gran devorador de minerales aquí... el coche eléctrico.”

• On the True Cost of Mining:

  • [15:21] Alicia Valero:

    “Si vamos a necesitar tanto litio... va a ser complicado poder suministrar en tiempo y forma... toda esa cantidad que se requiere.”

• On Neocolonialism:

  • [23:26] Adriana Espinosa:

    "Este neocolonialismo de recursos ya se está dando... los mismos protagonistas, las grandes multinacionales, y los perdedores son las comunidades locales afectadas y los derechos humanos."

• On Clean Mining:

  • [44:15] Alicia Valero:

    “La minería per se nunca es sostenible... los impactos siempre están ahí.”

• On Zones of Sacrifice:

  • [34:08] Elvira Díaz:

    “Esta zona sería una zona de sacrificio para que otras personas en las ciudades tengan energía...”

• On Participation and Democracy:

  • [50:37] Adriana Espinosa:

    “No pueden los gobiernos pretender acelerar una supuesta transición ecológica... a espaldas de la ciudadanía... más democracia y no menos democracia.”

• On Proposed Solutions:

  • [52:42] Alicia Valero:

    “Duplicar la vida de los teléfonos móviles... tiene un impacto brutal en comparación con el reciclado.”

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Content | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:51 | Core questions: Why mine for "green" purposes? What lies beneath? | | 06:14 | Definition and classification of minerals (critical, strategic, rare earths) by Adriana Espinosa | | 08:51 | Critique of mining boom justified by energy transition (Adriana Espinosa) | | 11:22 | Limits of extraction and planetary pressures (Alicia Valero) | | 15:08 | Geopolitical bottlenecks and supply chain dominations (Alicia Valero) | | 24:41 | Discussion on refining, value chains, and Europe's vulnerability (Alicia Valero) | | 28:15 | Military/geopolitical stakes of mineral supply disruptions (Teresa de Fortuna) | | 34:08 | Community perspective from Extremadura’s lithium mine opposition (Elvira Díaz) | | 38:27 | “No hay ninguna mina verde...” (Elvira Díaz) | | 42:05 | Local rights, social manipulation, and lack of participation (Adriana Espinosa) | | 44:15 | Feasibility (or not) of "clean" mining (Alicia Valero) | | 46:01 | Dangers of deregulation and labor risks in mining (Mariano Sanz) | | 50:37 | What can be done—democracy, degrowth, and responsible policy (Adriana Espinosa, Alicia Valero, Lucía Bárcena) | | 52:42 | Extending product lifespans, circular economy, and reducing demand (Alicia Valero) | | 53:27 | Concrete legal resistance strategies (Lucía Bárcena) |

Final Messages and Calls to Action

• Transition must be just, democratic, and not replicate colonial exploits for the sake of “green” or “strategic” interests.
• More democracy is needed, not less; communities must be consulted and heard.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle: extend the life of devices, and lower material demands.
• Prioritize civil society and environmental needs over military-industrial priorities.
• Continued vigilance, resistance, and reporting are essential as mining booms under the green banner.

In the powerful words of the episode's activists and experts:

"No a las minas y sí a la vida. Porque no hay ninguna mina verde, no hay ninguna mina sostenible." ([38:27], Elvira Díaz)
"No hay futuro sin energía limpia, pero tampoco sin justicia." ([50:24], Host 2)