New EU initiative increases demand for Swedish mines

2020-09-04
10:18
News

Half of Europe’s most critical metals and minerals are found in the Swedish bedrock. When the EU on Thursday released a series of measures to increase the degree of self-sufficiency in critical raw materials, the spotlight is on Sweden, which is already today Europe’s most mining nation.

– The Swedish mining industry is ready to meet demand from the EU, but now Sweden’s politicians must take responsibility for radically streamlining the permit processes for the mining industry, says Maria Sunér Fleming, CEO of Svemin.

The availability of metals and minerals is crucial for modern society and not least for meeting the climate goals. The issue has also been further brought to the fore with the ongoing corona pandemic when supply chains have been rapidly broken and borders closed.

The EU is therefore now taking action to ensure the supply of these crucial metals and minerals. On Thursday, the list was published which indicates which metals and minerals are critical for the EU, together with several concrete measures to increase the EU’s degree of self-sufficiency. Increasing the number of mines in the EU is one of the measures pointed out by the European Commission.

– Sweden is already today the EU’s most mining nation and we will thus play an important role in ensuring the EU’s security of supply of metals and minerals. All indications are that this significance will increase. In Sweden, there is potential for more than half of the raw materials on the new list, says Maria Sunér Fleming.

– In the shift away from fossil energy to cope with the climate, new technology is needed that requires new materials. Not least battery minerals such as cobalt, but also rare earth metals and other metals for wind turbines, solar cells and electrification. This creates a new geopolitical map and it is good that the EU is now planning strategically around this, Maria Sunér Fleming continues.

Lithium, best known as a component in batteries and absolutely crucial for the transition to electrified transport, is on the 2020 list for the first time. For electric car batteries and energy storage alone, the EU will need 18 times more lithium in 2030 than today; and up to 60 times more by 2050.

In parallel with the updated list, the Commission also presented an action plan and a future study that addresses the raw materials that are crucial to the transition to a green and digital economy, while strengthening the EU’s degree of self-sufficiency.

– While the EU now clearly points to the needs and importance of a strategic stance on raw material issues, Sweden unfortunately still lacks a clear ambition and will. The mining industry in Sweden is rather faced with obstacles and bureaucracy. This requires a radical change in today’s inefficient permit processes as a first step. It would be a good deed for both Sweden and Europe, says Maria Sunér Fleming.

FACTS: EU’s action plan, critical list and future study

On Thursday, the European Commission presented a series of measures to increase the degree of self-sufficiency in metals and minerals; an action plan for critical raw materials, the 2020 list of critical raw materials and a future study on critical raw materials for strategic technology and sectors from the 2030 and 2050 perspective.

The Action Plan looks at current and future challenges and proposes measures to reduce Europe’s dependence on third countries, diversify supply from both primary and secondary sources and improve resource efficiency and circularity while promoting responsible purchasing worldwide. The ten measures in total will promote the transition to a green and digital economy.

The list of critical raw materials has been updated to reflect the changing economic meanings and supply challenges based on their industrial application. It contains 30 critical raw materials, half of which there is potential for in Sweden.

Learn more

EU’s list over critical raw materials (CRM) 2020

Action plan – Critical Raw Materials Resilience: Charting a Path towards greater Security and Sustainability

Future study – Critical Raw Materials for Strategic Technologies and Sectors in the EU – A Foresight Study

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