EU plots course to secure raw materials vital to a low-carbon economy
By 
Anthony King2022-09-21T14:28:00
Russia’s war on Ukraine and the pandemic have highlighted the bloc’s dependence on unreliable suppliers
The European commission has proposed legislation to secure the supply of crucial minerals such as lithium and rare earth elements (REEs) to the EU.
The European Critical Raw Materials Act was announced by Ursula von der Leyen, commission president, during her state of the union address earlier this month.
She noted that almost 90% of rare earths and 60% of lithium are processed in China. ‘Lithium and rare earths are already replacing gas and oil at the heart of our economy,’ she said. ‘By 2030, our demand for those rare earth metals will increase fivefold.’