Currently, the coronavirus crisis is leading many parts of the world to look critically at how they organize their supply chains, especially where public safety or strategic sectors are concerned. In September, the European Commission (EC) released its “Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials,” the “2020 List of Critical Raw Materials,” and a foresight study on critical raw materials for strategic technologies and sectors from the 2030 and 2050 perspectives. The Action Plan looks at the current and future challenges and proposes actions to reduce Europe's dependency on third countries, diversifying supply from both primary and secondary sources, and improving resource efficiency and circularity while promoting responsible sourcing worldwide.
The actions will foster the EU transition toward a green and digital economy, and at the same time, bolster Europe's resilience and open strategic autonomy in key technologies needed for such transition. The List of Critical Raw Materials has been updated to reflect the changed economic importance and supply challenges based on their industrial application. It contains 30 critical raw materials. Lithium, which is essential for a shift to e-mobility, has been added to the list for the first time.
Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, says, “A secure and sustainable supply of raw materials is a prerequisite for a resilient economy. For e-car batteries and energy storage alone, Europe will, for instance, need up to 18 times more lithium by 2030 and up to 60 times more by 2050.”
■ The Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials is aimed at:
■ developing resilient value chains for EU industrial ecosystems;
■ reducing dependency on primary critical raw materials through circular use of resources, sustainable products, and innovation;
■ strengthening domestic sourcing of raw materials in the EU; and
■ diversifying sourcing from third countries and removing distortions to international trade, fully respecting the EU's international obligations.
To achieve these objectives, the EC plans to establish a European Raw Materials Alliance. By bringing together all relevant stakeholders, the alliance will primarily focus on the most pressing needs, namely to increase EU resilience in the rare-earth and magnet value chains, as this is vital to most EU industrial ecosystems, such as renewable energy, defense, and space. Later, the alliance could expand to address other critical raw material and base metal needs over time.
Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market, says, “By diversifying the supply from third countries and developing the EU's own capacity for extraction, processing, recycling, refining, and separation of rare earths, we can become more resilient and sustainable.”
To make better use of domestic resources, the EC will work with member states and regions to identify mining and processing projects in the EU that can be operational by 2025. In line with the European Green Deal, other actions will address the circularity and sustainability of the raw materials value chain. The EC will also develop strategic international partnerships to secure the supply of critical raw materials not found in Europe. Pilot partnerships with Canada, interested countries in Africa, and across Europe will start as of 2021. In these and other fora of international cooperation, the EC will promote sustainable and responsible mining practices and transparency.
