Lithium Valley (2018)

Lithium Valley Main Report 2018

Europe’s economy is perhaps more vulnerable for a variety of reasons and the EU recognises that the reliable and unhindered access to certain raw materials is a growing concern within the EU and across the globe. 49 In 2017, the European Commission created a list of CRMs for the EU that combine raw materials of high importance to the EU economy and of high risk associated with their supply (Table 4 ). Table 4 : Critical Raw Materials Identified by the EU

Deposit Location

Mineral

Mineral

Deposit Location

Antimony

Local WA deposits Local WA deposits Australian deposits Local WA deposits Australian deposits Local WA deposits Local WA deposits Local WA deposits

Beryllium

Local WA deposits Local WA deposits Local WA deposits Local WA deposits Local WA deposits Local WA deposits Local WA deposits Local WA deposits

Borates

Cobalt

Coking Coal

Fluorspar

Gallium Indium

Germanium Magnesium

Natural Graphite Phosphate Rock

Niobium

Silicon Metal

Tungsten

Platinum Group Metals

Light Rare Earths and Heavy Rare Earths

Local WA deposits

Baryte

Local WA deposits

Bismuth Helium

Local WA deposits Local WA deposits

Hafnium

Local WA deposits

Natural Rubber

CSIRO studies supported developing a local industry

Phosphorus

Local WA deposits Local WA deposits

Scandium Vanadium

Local WA deposits Local WA deposits

Tantalum

Source: European Commission ( http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/raw-materials/specific-interest/critical_en )

Supply risk reflects the risk of a disruption in the EU supply of the material. It is based on the concentration of primary supply from raw materials producing countries, considering their governance performance and trade aspects. Modern technology depends upon many of the CRMs such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient lighting. These CRMs are essential for many industries across the entire supply chain.

49 European Commission (2017), COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS on the 2017 list of Critical Raw Materials for the EU, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ TXT/?uri=CELEX:52017DC0490 . (Accessed: 01 May 2018)

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