The UK government has unveiled a new Critical Minerals Strategy aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on imported minerals essential for everyday technologies such as smartphones, electric vehicles, and household appliances. The strategy sets ambitious targets, including producing 10% of the UK’s critical mineral needs domestically and meeting an additional 20% through recycling by 2035. A key objective is to produce at least 50,000 tonnes of lithium in the UK by that year, surpassing the weight of the Titanic, while ensuring no more than 60% of any critical mineral is sourced from a single foreign country.
The strategy is supported by up to £50 million in government funding to help businesses scale domestic production and processing of critical minerals. This includes investments through the National Wealth Fund and UK Export Finance, alongside measures such as the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to lower industrial electricity costs for firms. The government will also fast-track permitting for innovative production and recycling projects and invest in workforce skills to meet sector demands.
Critical minerals are central to national security and economic growth, given their use in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defence technologies. With China controlling a significant portion of global rare earths, the UK aims to diversify supply chains and strengthen resilience against global disruptions. The strategy leverages domestic resources, including Europe’s largest lithium deposit in Cornwall, major tungsten sources, nickel refining capacity in Swansea, and the only Western source of rare earth alloys used in high-tech magnets.
The strategy is also aligned with the UK’s Industrial Strategy, positioning critical minerals as a foundational sector to drive modern manufacturing, clean energy, and advanced technologies. It is expected to create high-quality jobs, enhance economic growth, and provide supply chain security for the UK. Over 50 domestic critical mineral projects are currently underway, supporting more than 50,000 jobs and contributing £1.79 billion to the economy.
Industry leaders have welcomed the strategy, highlighting its potential to accelerate domestic production, unlock investment, and strengthen the UK’s position in the global minerals market. The government also plans to pursue stockpiling for defence purposes, explore recycling initiatives, and form international partnerships to ensure diversified, secure, and sustainable supply chains for critical minerals.
The strategy is a decisive step toward ensuring that the UK can support its technology, manufacturing, and defence sectors with reliable, domestically sourced materials while promoting economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and innovation across all regions of the country.
