Film’s presenter calls for breaking free from the lithium trenches and proposes a novel “public engagement” approach where civil society and the metals industry jointly develop a Responsible Mining v2.0 paradigm to overcome Europe’s lithium paradox
On 27 May 2025, “Europe’s Lithium Paradox” was unveiled to an audience of more than 120 invited guests whom are active in the broad Flemish critical raw materials ecosystem. This 56-minute author’s documentary film delivers a compelling exploration of lithium’s crucial role in Europe’s mission to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent. Following a fireside chat with the film’s presenter and the avant-première screening of the film, Francesca Vanthielen (Kanaal Z) moderated a forward-looking, highly constructive panel discussion featuring Geert Olbrechts (CTO & Executive Vice President Recycling, Umicore), Kira Van den Ende (Policy Expert and Spokeswoman, Bond Beter Leefmilieu), Kris Broos (Senior Expert Sustainable Materials, VITO) and Yanaika Denoyelle (Climate Consultant Ortelius/Econopolis and co-author of De Klimaatschok) about how Europe can overcome its lithium paradox and how Flanders can play a pivotal role in this endeavour.
Getting out of the trenches
In his fireside chat interview, the film’s presenter – Peter Tom Jones (SIM² KU Leuven) – reiterated his desire to build bridges between European civil society and the mining and metals production industry in Europe:
“Europe stands at a critical crossroads, facing the growing threat of complete dependence on third countries for essential metals and minerals like lithium—resources vital to achieving its climate goals. Yet, despite the urgency, progress remains stalled, trapped in a trench warfare of conflicting perspectives. On one side, civil society and environmental movements fire warnings about ecological risks. On the other side, the metals industry defends its role in securing Europe's energy transition. Caught in the crossfire, policymakers struggle to navigate the battlefield.
It is time to break free from the trenches. Europe must move beyond entrenched positions and forge a united front—one where collaboration replaces conflict, and a shared vision propels us forward. This calls for decisive action: strengthening legal frameworks, driving technological innovation, enhancing transparent communication, and ensuring genuine public engagement that transforms local communities from bystanders into beneficiaries. By embracing a new Responsible Mining v2.0 model, Europe has the opportunity to reconcile its ambitious climate targets with the need to protect local environments and cultures. But as time presses on, we must make haste, slowly.”
Following the film’s screening, the panel discussion followed up on this call for action. Th representatives from industry, think thanks, research organisations and civil society agreed upon the importance to go for a strategy that combines demand-side management (reducing critical metal demand) with domestic mining, refining and recycling. Kira Van den End, spokesperson for the environmental umbrella organisation – Bond Beter Leefmilieu – proposed a three-tier framework, which fully answers Jones’ call for a constructive way out of Europe’s lithium paradox:
“Mining lithium can technically be done in a sustainable manner. However, we need a strong legal framework and enforcement to ensure that it will actually be done to the highest standards. Value sharing with the local communities is a must, and we must never speak condescendingly of their concerns. We need a clear story on climate emergency and a holistic and appealing story on climate solutions – not just with industry, but with people – drawing in first place on reduction strategies such as car sharing and public transport.”
Geert Olbrechts stressed the importance of a stable, vertically-integrated, long-term EU policy framework that allows for the EU battery ecosystem – from mining, to refining, pCAM/CAM production, battery production and recycling – to come to fruition, where also leakage of battery waste to non-EU countries is avoided. Yanaika Denoyelle outlined the key conclusions of the recently published Ortelius report that highlights that Europe’s vulnerable supply of battery raw materials is increasing with time, necessitating fundamental policy changes. Kris Broos stressed the importance of the Flanders Metals Valley ecosystem, which is rich in terms of refining and recycling expertise and companies (Umicore, Aurubis, Nyrstar, Campine, Aluminium Duffel…), allowing Flanders to become a hub in the critical raw materials sector.
The film
Lithium is the cornerstone metal driving Europe’s transition to climate neutrality. Yet, despite the continent’s rich lithium reserves, no operational lithium mines or full-scale refineries exist. In a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape where critical minerals are increasingly weaponised, Europe’s total reliance on third countries exposes it to significant vulnerabilities. Europe’s Lithium Paradox delves into this contradiction. The presenter embarks on a road trip, exploring potential mining sites across Europe. He gets the unique opportunity to visit and film Umicore’s cutting-edge battery smelter recycling process (the first time ever a film crew was allowed in!) and Metso’s innovative lithium refining approach, both of which sidestep many environmental pitfalls seen in traditional lithium processing and recycling methods elsewhere in the world.
Furthermore, the film also examines demand-side management strategies, including transport modal shifts, aimed at reducing reliance on primary lithium extraction. Through stunning footage from across Europe and thought-provoking discussions with a diverse range of stakeholders, Europe’s Lithium Paradox presents a nuanced view of Europe’s lithium dilemma while posing pressing questions for a world where simple solutions are no longer available:
- Are European companies truly leading the way in environmental and social standards?
- Will the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act and its Strategic Projects pave a sustainable path forward?
- Can Europe resolve its lithium paradox while balancing its climate ambitions with the need for local environmental and cultural preservation?
The film’s launch
Following the launch of the film’s trailer (12 May 2025), the documentary will be disseminated through a series of avant-première events in Belgium, The Netherlands, Portugal, Estonia, France, Finland and Germany. More details about these events will be communicated in a later stage. After the completion of these events, the film will be made available to the general public through a suite of channels, in agreement with the film’s distributor, Journeyman Pictures.
Supporting organisations
SIM² KU Leuven. This documentary was co-developed by SIM², the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals. This interdisciplinary institute spans fields such as geology, chemistry, metallurgy, engineering, law, and economics. As one of the leading academic institutes in Europe, SIM² is dedicated to advancing the sustainable production and recycling of critical metals through research, education, and wider-society learning. The latter includes the creation of science communication films & author’s documentaries. Notable examples are the award-winning Made In Europe: From Mine to Electric Vehicle (2023), The Sami Perspective (2024), Europe’s Mining Renaissance: A Catalyst for Climate Neutrality (2024), and Not In My Country, Serbia’s Lithium Dilemma (2025). Recently, SIM² was formally endorsed and commended by the International Panel that evaluated all official KU Leuven Institutes, including SIM² (‘Strong Pass’ received), for its wider-society learning strategy.
For the Europe’s Lithium Paradox documentary, SIM² leverages its internationally recognised expertise in lithium exploration, extraction, processing, refining, and recycling. SIM² has been and continues to be involved in numerous fundamental science, strategic basic science, and applied research projects at KU Leuven, as well as Flemish-funded, EU-funded, and bilateral projects. SIM² has a track record in all possible primary and secondary lithium sources, including lithium hard-rock ores, (salt lake and geothermal) lithium brines, lithium-clay deposits, and end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and derived black mass. For more information, visit https://kuleuven.sim2.be/
LITHOS. This documentary was co-funded through the Horizon Europe project LITHOS. LITHOS directly contributes to the 1st and 2nd CRMA benchmarks (10% domestic extraction; 40% domestic processing). LITHOS processes and refines the ores from three “Strategic Projects” in terms of domestic battery-grade LiOH·H2O production: two spodumene-bearing pegmatite cases (Keliber’s deposits in the Kaustinen region, Finland; Savannah’s Barroso Lithium Project, Portugal) and one Rare-Metal Granite (RMG) case (Imerys’ Beauvoir mine in France). LITHOS triggers innovations along the value chain – mineral processing, concentrate pre-treatment & hydrometallurgical refining – making it possible to deal with different levels and types of impurities in non-spodumene Li minerals (lepidolite & petalite). LITHOS gives specific attention to closed-loop water systems in the mineral processing. More information: https://lithos-horizon.eu/lithos-project/
EXCEED. This documentary was co-funded through the Horizon Europe project EXCEED. EXCEED’s meta-objective is to unleash the full CRM and industrial mineral potential of Europe’s vast Li LCT-pegmatite and Rare-Metal Granite hard-rock resources. Using four premier European pegmatite and RMG case studies, EXCEED develops, upscales & demonstrates cost-effective, sustainable and responsible extraction routes for recovering the CRMs and industrial minerals as by-products from Li-bearing hard-rock ores. A suite of CRMs will be extracted and refined, while diverse industrial minerals will be refined and valorised in low-carbon building materials. More information: https://exceed-horizon.eu/
Additional information
Trailer & full documentary
The trailer is available here. The film will not be made public before all avant-première events have been completed. Journalists can ask for a protected link to the film for reviewing purposes only. Alternatively, journalists can obtain images or footages. Contact Journeyman Pictures directly or Peter Tom Jones through his LinkedIn profile.
Key info
Film crew: Director/Script: Stijn van Baarle (STORYRUNNER), Presenter/Co-scriptwriter: Peter Tom Jones (SIM² KU Leuven), Cameramen: Michael Van de Velde & Jochen Maes; Sound technicians: Casimir De Kimpe, Jeroen De Vriese.
Featuring, amongst many others, Julia Poliscanova (T&E), Alexandre Lima (University of Porto), Hildegard Bentele (Member of the European Parliament), Janne Karonen (Metso), Charles Stuyck (Umicore), Toni Eerola (Finnish Geological Survey, GTK).
Funding and disclaimer
Funding for this documentary comes from Horizon Europe project funding (LITHOS & EXCEED), supplemented by internal SIM² funding and additional crowdfunding managed through KU Leuven’s crowdfunding platform (https://donate.kuleuven.cloud/crowdfunding/kuleuven). No external company commissioned or financed this film.
Disclaimer EU: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. EU.
Disclaimer SIM²: SIM² has no financial interest in the publication of this documentary. It will not receive royalties or commercial income from the airing of this film on television stations, streaming platforms, or social media channels. The production and dissemination of this documentary are solely part of SIM²’s mandated commitment to wider-society learning and its role as communication & dissemination Work Package leader in the Horizon Europe projects LITHOS & EXCEED. The producers of this film undertook all reasonable efforts to present the message of the interviewees in an accurate and fair manner. Any views and opinions expressed by the interviewees are their own. Interviewees bear no responsibility for statements of other interviewees nor for any representations made or conclusions drawn in this documentary.
Storyrunner
Storyrunner is a video production agency with a strong focus on “science & sustainability”. Turning complex information into a fascinating stories for a wide audience is our specialty. We make documentaries but also shorter videos with (or without) graphic animations for TV channels, universities and European research projects. For more information: https://www.storyrunner.be/abou
Journeyman Pictures
The film is distributed by Journeyman Pictures. For over twenty years Journeyman has distributed and co-produced, provocative, profound and original factual content, working with the top players in the industry. Journeyman is one of the leading independent suppliers of award winning stories to the global theatrical, broadcast, digital and educational markets. For more information, visit https://www.journeyman.tv/about/about-us
About the film’s presenter
Dr. Peter Tom Jones earned his Master’s degree in Environmental and Chemical Engineering from KU Leuven in 1996, followed by a PhD in metallurgy (stainless steelmaking) in 2001. After working as a postdoctoral researcher until 2008, he secured a permanent position through KU Leuven’s Industrial Research Fund as a Research & Innovation Manager specializing in Sustainable Metallurgy. Since 2020, Jones has served as the director of the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals (SIM²), an interdisciplinary research hub of more than 400 experts dedicated to the exploration, extraction, processing, refining, and recycling of energy-transition metals crucial for clean energy and mobility. He has co-authored or contributed to around 40 granted European projects on critical metals and sustainable metallurgical processing, with a strong emphasis on lithium, cobalt/nickel, and rare earth elements. His deep-rooted interest in the intersection of environmentalism and metallurgy has shaped his work for over 30 years, focusing on the role of critical metals in achieving climate neutrality. He has (co-)authored seven books addressing climate and environmental crises, as well as the transition to climate neutrality (Het Klimaatboek, Klimaatcrisis, Terra Incognita, Terra Reversa, and others). Since 2022, Jones has expanded his impact by presenting authors’ documentaries that explore the connection between metals and the climate transition. His filmography includes Responsible Mining in Europe (2022), Made in Europe: From Mine to Electric Vehicle (2023 & 2024), The Sami Perspective (2024), Europe's Mining Renaissance (2024), Not In My Country: Serbia's Lithium Dilemma (February 2025), and Europe’s Lithium Paradox (May 2025). Committed to living his values, Jones has been an environmentally motivated vegetarian for 30 years and is an avid urban cyclist.
