Critical Raw Materials Act Explained

Since 2011 the European Commission has assessed every 3 years a list of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) for the EU economy within its Raw Materials Initiative. To date, 14 CRMs were identified in 2011, 20 in 2014, 27 in 2017 and 30 in 2020. These materials are mainly used in energy transition and digital technologies. Then in March 2023 Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the Critical Raw Materials Act,[1] "for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the European Council establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials".[2] At the time, Europe depended on China for 98% of its rare-earth needs, 97% of its lithium supply and 93% of its magnesium supply.[3]

In the U.S., critical minerals that are at risk of shortage or supply chain disruption are assessed by the United States Geological Survey and by the National Science and Technology Council.[4] [5] [6]

Definition

Critical materials have been defined by one academic group as "raw materials for which there are no viable substitutes with current technologies, which most consumer countries are dependent on importing, and whose supply is dominated by one or a few producers".[7]

Several factors may combine to make a raw material (mineral or not) a critical resource. These may include the following:

See also: Peak minerals and Ore.

See also: Demand curve and Price optimization.

See also: Cost-of-production theory of value.

European strategy pre-2023

According to the United Nations in 2011,[8] as the demand for rare metals will quickly exceed the consumed tonnage in 2013,[9] it is urgent and priority should be placed on recycling rare metals with a worldwide production lower than 100 000 t/year, in order to conserve natural resources and energy.[9] However, this measure will not be enough. Planned obsolescence of products which contain these metals should be limited, and all elements inside computers, mobile phones or other electronic objects found in electronic waste should be recycled. This involves looking for eco-designed alternatives, and changes in consumer behavior in favor of selective sorting aimed at an almost total recycling of these metals.

Europe alone produced about 12 million tons of metallic wastes in 2012, and this amount tended to grow more than 4% a year (faster than municipal waste). However, fewer than 20 metals, of the 60 studied by experts of the UNEP, were recycled to more than 50% in the world. 34 compounds were recycled at lower than 1% of the total discarded as trash.

According to the UNEP, even without new technologies, that rate could be greatly increased. The energy efficiency of the production and recycling methods has also to be developed.[9]

Information about the location of deposits of rare metals is scarce. In 2013, the US DOE created the Critical Materials Institute, whose intended role is to focus on finding and commercializing ways to reduce reliance on the critical materials essential for American competitiveness in the clean energy technologies.[10]

On 3 September 2020, the European Commission presented its strategy to both strengthen and better control its supply of some thirty materials deemed critical, in particular rare earths. The list includes, for example:

Where European resources are insufficient, the Commission promises to strengthen long-term partnerships, notably with Canada, Africa and Australia.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Issues

There are many issues about these resources and they concern a large number of people and human activities. It is possible to distinguish:

The Act

The Call for evidence preliminary to the Act was made in autumn 2022.[22] The Act "identifies a list of strategic raw materials, which are crucial to technologies important to Europe's green and digital ambitions and for defence and space applications, while being subject to potential supply risks in the future." By 2030, one single ex-EU country shall produce not more than 65% of the EU's annual consumption of each strategic raw material. Clear benchmarks have been set for domestic capacities of the EU, which will by 2030:[1]

The Act will "reduce the administrative burden and simplify permitting procedures for critical raw materials projects in the EU. In addition, selected Strategic Projects will benefit from support for access to finance and shorter permitting timeframes (24 months for extraction permits and 12 months for processing and recycling permits). Member States will also have to develop national programmes for exploring geological resources."[1]

The document acknowledges that the EU "will never be self-sufficient in supplying such raw materials and will continue to rely on imports for a majority of its consumption. International trade is therefore essential to supporting global production and ensuring diversification of supply. The EU will need to strengthen its global engagement with reliable partners to develop and diversify investment and promote stability in international trade and strengthen legal certainty for investors. In particular, the EU will seek mutually beneficial partnerships with emerging markets and developing economies, notably in the framework of its Global Gateway strategy."[1]

European lists of critical raw materials

All critical raw materials are graphically summarised on the periodic table of elements published in review paper "The Critical Raw Materials in Cutting Tools for Machining Applications: A Review".[23] The list was updated in March 2023.[24]

They are also shown in the table below.[25]

20112014201720202023
....Aluminium
AntimonyAntimonyAntimonyAntimonyAntimony
....Arsenic
...BauxiteBauxite
..BaryteBaryteBaryte
BerylliumBerylliumBerylliumBerylliumBeryllium
..BismuthBismuthBismuth
.BorateBorateBorateBorate
....Boron
.Chromium...
CobaltCobaltCobaltCobaltCobalt
....Copper
.Coking coalCoking coalCoking coalCoking coal
....Feldspar
FluorsparFluorsparFluorsparFluorsparFluorspar
GalliumGalliumGalliumGalliumGallium
GermaniumGermaniumGermaniumGermaniumGermanium
Graphite Graphite Graphite Graphite
..HafniumHafniumHafnium
..Helium.Helium
IndiumIndiumIndiumIndiumIndium
...LithiumLithium
.Magnesite...
MagnesiumMagnesiumMagnesiumMagnesiumMagnesium
....Manganese
..Natural rubberNatural rubber.
....Nickel
NiobiumNiobiumNiobiumNiobiumNiobium
Platinum group metalsPlatinum group metalsPlatinum group metalsPlatinum group metalsPlatinum group metals
.Phosphate rockPhosphate rockPhosphate rockPhosphate rock
..PhosphorusPhosphorusPhosphorus
Scandium.ScandiumScandiumScandium
.SiliconSiliconSiliconSilicon
...StrontiumStrontium
Tantalum.TantalumTantalumTantalum
...TitaniumTitanium
Rare earthLight rare earthLight rare earthLight rare earthLight rare earth
Heavy rare earthHeavy rare earthHeavy rare earthHeavy rare earth
TungstenTungstenTungstenTungstenTungsten
..VanadiumVanadiumVanadium

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Critical Raw Materials: ensuring secure and sustainable supply chains for EU's green and digital future . European Commission . 16 March 2023.
  2. News: PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION European Critical Raw Materials Act . European Commission . 16 March 2023.
  3. News: Speech by President von der Leyen on EU-China relations to the Mercator Institute for China Studies and the European Policy Centre . European Commission . 30 March 2023.
  4. Nassar . Nedal T. . Brainard . Jamie . Gulley . Andrew . Evaluating the mineral commodity supply risk of the U.S. manufacturing sector . Science Advances . 6 . 2020 . 8 . eaay8647 . 2375-2548 . 10.1126/sciadv.aay8647 . 32128413 . 7035000 . 2020SciA....6.8647N .
  5. Web site: National Minerals Information Center - U.S. Geological Survey . 2021-12-09 . 2022-01-30.
  6. Web site: U.S. National Science and Technology Council,Subcommittee on Critical and Strategic Mineral Supply Chains . Assessment of Critical Minerals: Screening Methodology and Initial Application . 2016 . 30 January 2022.
  7. Overland. Indra. 2019-03-01. The geopolitics of renewable energy: Debunking four emerging myths. Energy Research & Social Science. 49. 36–40. 10.1016/j.erss.2018.10.018. 2214-6296. free. 11250/2579292. free.
  8. Rapport PNUE de mai 2011
  9. Rapport du Panel international des ressources du Programme des Nations unies pour l'environnement (Pnue) du 24 avril 2013
  10. Web site: Turner . Roger . A Strategic Approach to Rare-Earth Elements as Global Trade Tensions Flare . www.greentechmedia.com . 21 June 2019.
  11. Commission announces actions to make Europe's raw materials supply more secure and sustainable . . September 2020 . Brussels . 2022-02-16.
  12. https://www.lesechos.fr/finance-marches/marches-financiers/transition-energique-le-plan-de-bruxelles-pour-acceder-aux-matieres-premieres-1239196 Transition énergétique : le plan de Bruxelles pour accéder aux matières premières
  13. Web site: COM(2020) 474 final. Critical Raw Materials Resilience: Charting a Path towards greater Security and Sustainability . 3 September 2020 . Brussels . European Commission.
  14. Book: Critical Raw Materials for Strategic Technologies and Sectors in the EU - A Foresight Study . 10.2873/58081 . 2020 . . 2022-02-16 . Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs . 9789276153368 .
  15. Web site: List of Critical Raw Materials 2020 - including four new ones . ESM Foundation . 2020-09-07 . 2022-02-16.
  16. http://www.actu-environnement.com/ae/news/cese-ressources-minerales-ecoconception-recyclage-20427.php4 The French Economic, Social and Environmental Council ((CESE)) is backing éco-conception and recycling to economize mineral resources
  17. Comella P, Frasci, Panza N, Manzione L, De Cataldis G, Cioffi R, Maiorino L, Micillo E, Lorusso V, Di Rienzo G, Filippelli G, Lamberti A, Natale M, Bilancia D, Nicolella G, Di Nota A, Comella G (2000), Randomized trial comparing cisplatin, gemcitabine, and vinorelbine with either cisplatin and gemcitabine or cisplatin and vinorelbine in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: interim analysis of a phase III trial of the Southern Italy; Cooperative Oncology Group.
  18. Schiller JH, Harrington D, Belani CP, Langer C, Sandler A, Krook J, Zhu J, Johnson DH (2002) Comparison of four chemotherapy regimens for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group).
  19. Schiller, D Tilden, M Aristides, M Lees, A Kielhorn, N Maniadakis, S Bhalla (2004)In France as in other countries of Europe, le cost of traitement d'un cancer bronchique non à petites cellules par cisplatine-gemzar est inférieur à celui des associations cisplatine-vinorebine, cisplatine-paclitaxel ou cisplatine-docétaxel (Retrospective cost analysis of gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin in non-small cell lung cancer compared to other combination therapies in Europe Lung Cancer); Revue des Maladies Respiratoires Vol 22, N° spécial juin 2005 pp. 185-198 Doi:RMR-06-2005-22-6-0761-8425-101019-200505465 J; 43: 101-12.
  20. Web site: The future of sustainable energy is in the exploitation of rare earths . Phys.org . 2022-02-16.
  21. Web site: A Scarcity of Rare Metals Is Hindering Green Technologies . Yale E360 . 2022-02-16.
  22. News: Call for evidence . 8 April 2023 . European Commission.
  23. Rizzo, A.; Goel, S.; Grilli, M.L.; Iglesias, R.; Jaworska, L.; Lapkovskis, V.; Novak, P.; Postolnyi, B.O.; Valerini, D. The Critical Raw Materials in Cutting Tools for Machining Applications: A Review. Materials 2020, 13, 1377. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13061377
  24. News: Critical raw materials - Fifth list 2023 of critical raw materials for the EU . European Commission . 16 March 2023.
  25. Web site: COM(2020) 474 final. Critical Raw Materials Resilience: Charting a Path towards greater Security and Sustainability . 3 September 2020 . . Brussels.