GEODAYS 2024

Tuesday, June 25

09:30 - 12:30 : Opening ceremony and round-table discussion "Critical metals and materials, yes, but at what price?"

The European energy and digital transition, which has been emphasized by recent crises and growing dependence on China for critical metals and materials, raises crucial question. With it mining potential, environmental regulations and expertise in steel and metallurgy, France is central to the debate. Since 2022, national and European initiatives have been launched, but securing metal and material supplies still raises many questions about their source, how to extract them sustainably, and their social and economic impacts.

The round-table will explore the challenges and opportunities linked to these complex issues.

3pm - 4:30pm: Thematic session: «AVENIA-Quebec collaboration: a possibility to explore and/or to develop? »

This session will focus on all the privileged contacts that AVENIA has established with its Quebec partners since 2021.

And to seize these opportunities, the session will invite participants to jointly draw up the agenda of a future half-day of exchanges (date to be defined), during which the Quebec adhoc players will be present, on the selected themes of interest such as strategic metals and materials, CO2 capture and storage, or hydrogen, to cover a wide range of possible actions: research and industrial projects, shared research, training…

12.30 pm - 6 pm :
Exhibition

2:30 pm - 6 pm :
B2B MEETINGS

7pm - 11pm :
Connect & Cocktails" evening

Wednesday, June 26th

9h-10h30 :
Thematic session "Natural Hydrogen: Exploration programs in the Pyrenean Piedmont".

After many years of university research, natural hydrogen has moved from the experimental stage to a dynamic worldwide exploration. The Pyrenean Piedmont stands out as a pioneering region, with no fewer than five projects in progress ("play and prospect"). This session will focus on the presentation of these first exploration programs, laying the foundations for a newly-emerging European industry.

9am-12pm :
B2B MEETINGS

9am-5.30pm :
Exhibition

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm:
Thematic session open to the general public subject to registration "Necessity versus Acceptability: towards Societal Responsibility?"

In order to decarbonize (by means of photovoltaics, wind power, geothermal energy, natural hydrogen, nuclear power, etc.), we need to exploit and use the subsurface (opening mines for metals, drilling campaigns for geothermal energy and natural hydrogen). Also, to reduce the impact of industrial CO2 emissions, it is also necessary to sequester and store this greenhouse gas until the industry switches to a low carbon model and society as a whole moves to a more sober lifestyle.

At a conceptual level, we can all agree that underground is one of the solutions for decarbonizing our energy mix. What are the reasons why more or less strong opposition prevents concrete projects from being set up at local level? How can we move towards greater pragmatism?

14h-17h30 :
B2B MEETINGS