A new parliamentary report warns the UK’s reliance on China for essential minerals—vital for defense, clean energy, and AI—poses a serious strategic risk. Lawmakers urge the government to adopt a coordinated national strategy, including a dedicated financing mechanism to develop domestic and alternative sources of rare earth minerals. The push highlights concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities and the need to speed up mining projects and industrial diversification. Without action, the transition to net-zero emissions could also face critical delays.
Delivering net zero also at risk, say MPs as they call for centralised policy and funding for mines and diversification The UK is “dangerously” dependent on China for critical raw materials needed for the military, renewable energy infrastructure and AI, a parliamentary investigation has found.MPs on the business select committee called for an urgent centralised policy and the creation of a “critical minerals finance facility” to help fund rare earth and other critical mineral mines, and deploy grants, equity and debt to accelerate a diversification programme. Continue reading...
