Duration
26h Th, 26h Pr, 1d FW
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This course aims at exploring the full value chain and understand all steps of a product lifecycle.
Theoretical modules are intended to familiarize students with the upstream part of the value chain, with special emphasis on raw materials extration and metallurgy.
- Introduction to Georesources
- Minerals and Rocks
- Ores and Mineral Deposits
- Commodities and Criticality
- Geopolitics of Raw Materials
- Mineral Supply Chains
- Waste and the Linear Economy
Thereafter, students are introduced to Lifecycle Thinking and the Circular Economy paradigm.
- Circular Economy
- Resources for the Energy Transition
- Lifecycle Impact Assessment
- Recycling Indicators
- CE Business Models
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Understanding of the scientific literature on mineral raw materials
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.2, II.1, II.2, III.2, III.3, III.4, IV.3, IV.5, V.1, V.2, V.3, VI.1, VI.2, VI.3, VI.4, VII.1, VII.2, VII.3, VII.4, VII.5, VII.6 of the MSc in geological and mining engineering.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
This course combines theoretical sessions and project-based learning with oral and written presentations.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
PowerPoints provided by lecturers
SPICE Textbook Sustainable Processes in Circular Economy, Chagnes A. (Ed), Elsevier, 2025
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Other : Mid-semester written report evaluated through oral Q/A session
Further information:
Groups of 2 (max 3) students will be assigned a given product.
They will have to explore both the upstream and the downstream part of the value chain.
The aim being to do a tear down, understand how the product was assembled, under which conditions, with which metals, and how it will be collected/remanufactured/recycled at end-of-life.
The project consists of two parts:
- Part I. Individual report analysing the upstream part of the value chain for a given metal in two different countries/contexts: (raw materials occurence, resources, extraction, processing, environmental/social impacts, traceability, etc.)
- Part II: Group report on the downstream part of the product lifecycle considering two different countries (product market, regulations for disposal/collection at end of life, 'R' strategies, circularity, etc.)
Deadlines and assessments :
Part I report (upstream) due for autumn break:
- To be presented orally after autumn break,
followed by an in depth question/answer session - Contribution to the final mark for the course : report (10%) oral (40%)
- To be presented orally during exam session,
followed by an in depth question/answer session - Contribution to the final mark for the course : report (10%) oral (40%)
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Dr Thomas NERON
Teaching & Research assistant
GeMMe
Sart Tilman B52
e-mail : thomas.neron@uliege.be