Europe, 80% depends on imports for critical raw materials

In Europe the standard provides the achievement of climate neutrality by 2050. To achieve this, they will play a strategic role the so-called critical raw materials. It is, like reports the website of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in ItalyOf “those materials of strategic economic importance for Europe and characterized at the same time by high supply risk”.

They are needed for the production, for example, of photovoltaic panels, batteries and wind turbines. From the lithiumfrom the cobaltfrom the bauxite and give it Rare landsto name just a few, one cannot therefore ignore the road that will lead to the full ecological transition.

As he points out in a briefs Deposit and loan fundhowever, to obtain supplies of these raw materials today, the member countries of the European Union 80% depend on imports. However, they play a very marginal role in the technology value chains who make use of these minerals. All of this concretely translates not only into the risk for the EU of not being a protagonist in strategic supply chains for ecological and digital transitionsbut also to compromise one’s ability to achieve the sustainable development goals, inclusive and lasting which are the basis of the Green deal and the Digital Compass.

But what could European countries do for improve your prospects with respect to the procurement of critical raw materials?

1. The brief of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
2. The prospects
3. The moves of Europe and Italy
4. The circular economy
5. Not just recycling

The brief of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti

The document drafted by Cdp tried to answer precisely this question, emphasizing how much the importance that these minerals will have in relation to many strategic technologies in the sectors of renewable energies, electric mobility, defense and aerospace.

It also defines the areas in which Europe and Italy could intervene to achieve the indispensable goal of becoming strategically autonomous in sight of the ecological and digital transitions.

The prospects

Continuing, as it intends to do, on the road it will lead to climate neutralitythe European Union will see increase to 2050 – according to CDP estimates – of 56 times compared to current levels, its demand for lithium. It should increase Of 15 times the one of cobaltwhile that could be increased tenfold for the rare earths.