A new government report warns that the UK is entering an era in which access to critical minerals will shape national security, economic resilience and the country’s ability to reach net zero. The accelerating demand across the globe and the simultaneous supply risks pacing equally have driven the government to release an updated Critical Minerals Strategy. According to the report, the government has identified 34 raw materials as indispensable to Britain’s future prosperity.
These minerals are at the core of modern lifestyle, as they support renewable power systems, data infrastructure, electric transport, aerospace technologies and defence capabilities. At the same time, it is equally true that the world is at the brink of a supply crunch that could diminish these ambitions.
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A widening gap between demand and production
As the UK embraces electric mobility, the pressure on critical minerals is intensifying. EVs rely on steady supplies of copper(10.8 per cent), lithium(3.2 per cent), cobalt(4.3 per cent), nickel(15.7 per cent), graphite(28.1 per cent), aluminium(18.9 per cent) and rare earth elements for batteries, power electronics and high-performance motors. With net-zero rapidly becoming the business imperative, the demand for these materials is rising fast, making resilient supply chains essential. By 2035, the UK’s yearly demand for copper is expected to almost double, while lithium demand is projected to surge by 1,100 per cent. Unfortunately, this sharp rise in demand is not being matched by equally dependable supplies.
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The severity of the challenge is felt more in the supply of copper. Although it is one of the most established industrial metals, the coming decades will require quantities exceeding everything mined in human history to date. Bringing new copper mines into production can take more than ten years and consume billions in investment, leaving the market exposed.
Other minerals present different vulnerabilities. Cobalt and the 17 rare earth elements, for example, are largely sourced from countries where strategic interests diverge sharply from those of the UK. Many such key resources are concentrated across politically complex or developing nations, which complicates their access.
For example, China owns the monopoly on Neodymium, the core ingredient in high-performance magnets used in wind turbines. Cobalt, the key element in batteries, is extremely concentrated across the Democratic Republic of Congo, which holds practically half of the global reserves.
Persistent inconsistencies and technologies offering alternatives
The report reveals that there are historical records of environmental degradation and social impact that mining has caused without returning the minimal benefits to the local communities of the producer nations. While the wealthy countries have deliberately ignored these, the surging public scrutiny and geopolitical pressures made it evident that such negligence is no longer viable, especially for nations that have to depend on imports primarily due to limited mineral resources.
In response, researchers and companies are developing extraction methods that could reshape how minerals are sourced. Some progress is being made through greener mining practices powered by renewable energy, but the most transformative ideas sit outside traditional approaches.
One promising avenue involves drawing both heat and minerals from geothermal systems associated with ancient volcanic activity. These underground fluids can contain lithium, gold, silver and other critical minerals in unique combinations. Such resources could deliver clean energy and strategic minerals simultaneously. Cornwall is at the forefront of this approach, with plans tied to the reopening of the lithium site.
Synthetic biology is another fast-moving field. Scientists are engineering microbes capable of selectively recovering elements from unconventional environments, including battery waste streams and sewage sludge. These organisms could operate in extreme conditions where conventional recovery is infeasible.
Recycling alone falls short of meeting the UK’s mineral needs
The report stresses that recycling and resource recovery must play a far larger role. Beyond standard recycling, the emphasis is shifting towards extracting metals from waste, industrial by-products and even legacy pollution. Mining tailings and coal fly ash, for example, contain metals that can be recovered using advanced materials and specialised microbes.
However, recycling cannot bridge the immediate gap. Many metals remain locked inside long-life products for decades. Nickel, another important battery metal, can stay in circulation for more than 30 years before it is recovered, limiting short-term availability.
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A new approach to mining’s social contract
The government’s strategy underlines that future mining must avoid repeating the “resource curse”, in which resource-rich nations often struggle to benefit from their own geological endowments. A shift towards investing in local industries, so producing nations can manufacture magnets, batteries and other components, rather than merely exporting raw ore, is seen as essential.
Equally important is securing genuine community participation. In order to make “social licence to operate” effective, it is mentioned as fundamental: without community acceptance, mining ventures risk failure. Alongside, emphasis is given on the health and safety standards of the labour as well as the environment in which they operate. Several regulations are made operational to enforce restoration and ecosystem recovery once extraction ends.
With years of criticism over environmental disasters and harmful practices, the industry has already experienced a fragile reputation. Yet rising expectations around environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards could accelerate meaningful reform.
Strategy offers direction yet caution remains
While the UK’s refreshed Critical Minerals Strategy sets encouraging targets around domestic development, circular resource use and supply chain resilience, the report suggests that its performance indicators fall short of its ambition. Innovation support is also described as conservative, staying close to known technologies rather than embracing the more radical ideas that may ultimately be required.
What the analysis ultimately calls for is a complete reframing of how the UK secures the minerals that underpin its economy. That means tapping unconventional sources, using materials more efficiently, ensuring mining communities see real benefits, repairing environmental damage and building supply chains capable of withstanding political upheaval, economic volatility or sudden geopolitical shocks.
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