“If Mining and Energy Resources Engineering fails to attract talent, there will be no industry. Portugal and the world need industry to develop and drive energy and digital transitions”, says Maria João Pereira, the Secretary of State for Energy and, until March 2024, the President of the Department of Mining and Energy Resources Engineering (DER), during DER’s first Advisory Council, on 19 July, at Técnico – Alameda campus.
The meeting was chaired by Rogério Colaço, the President of Técnico and, temporarily, the President of DER, and included industry representatives, a government member, former government officials, international experts, professors and alumni.
António Costa Silva, former Minister of Economy, emphasised that it is crucial to explain to young people “the importance of mineral and energy resources engineering for the sustainability of the planet” and for combating climate change. “We must communicate a strong digital experience and convey the challenges of electrification and energy transition,” he added.
Gustavo Paneiro, Vice-president of DER, emphasised the importance of “finding collaborative strategies between academia and industry to attract young talent to sectors crucial for the development of the coming decades”. Amélia Dionísio, also Vice-president of DER, recalled that Portugal “has some critical metals for the energy and technological transition”.
Emanuel Proença, CEO of Savannah, the company developing the lithium project at the Barroso mine in Boticas, said that promoting these raw materials in the country is pivotal, “since the new generations are eager for action”. According to Emanuel Proença, it’s important to convey the message: “Come work with us on the ground to transform reality” through the energy and digital transition. On this point, Nuno Ribeiro da Silva, former Secretary of State for Energy, had previously stated that Portugal is experiencing “a historic moment”, achieving “its own energy autonomy for the first time in its history during the ongoing economic revolution”.
Geologist Ana Carina Veríssimo stressed the importance of students being “aware of all the professional opportunities offered by the degree in Mining Engineering and Energy Resources”. Aurela Shitza, Director of industrial affairs at the Industrial Minerals Association (IMA) – Europe, defended the need to “translate the technical language of academia and industry into a language that young secondary school students can understand”.
“We need to show that our sector is important”, emphasised Maria João Pereira. The president of Técnico, Rogério Colaço, concluded that “if we don’t find solutions for this, no one else will”.
