The government has unveiled a comprehensive new critical minerals strategy aimed at ending Britain’s over-reliance on foreign suppliers of vital materials for smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines and household electronics.
The plan aims to produce 10% of the UK’s critical minerals needs domestically and recover 20% through recycling by 2035, supported by up to £50 million of new funding and a greater focus on the government’s national security and industrial objectives.
Announcing the strategy, ministers said the UK must ensure reliable supplies of minerals such as lithium, copper, nickel, rare earths and tungsten – materials essential for everything from EV batteries and defense equipment to data centers and renewable energy infrastructure. Demand for lithium alone is expected to increase by 1,100% by 2035, while demand for copper is expected to nearly double.
To meet this challenge, the strategy sets a target of producing at least 50,000 tonnes of lithium by 2035 – more than the weight of the Titanic – leveraging the UK’s unique geological strengths. These include Europe’s largest lithium deposit in Cornwall, large tungsten reserves, one of the world’s largest nickel refineries in Swansea and the only Western producer of rare earth alloys, essential for high-performance magnets.
The UK will also limit dependence on a single country for more than 60% of its supply of critical minerals by the mid-2030s, addressing vulnerabilities highlighted by China’s dominance in global mining and refining, where the country controls up to 90% of processing capacity.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the strategy was vital for both national security and economic growth.
“Critical minerals are the backbone of modern life – powering everything from smartphones and fighter jets to electric vehicles and wind turbines. For too long the UK has been dependent on a handful of foreign suppliers,” he said. “We are taking decisive action to boost domestic production, increase recycling and support British businesses so we can compete globally and reduce costs at home.”
Industry Minister Chris McDonald said in the government’s plan for change that building secure supply chains was essential to “strengthening national security” and supporting high-growth sectors.
The strategy provides funding of up to £50 million for UK companies to increase the extraction, refining, processing and recycling of minerals. This comes alongside the Government’s wider public financial instruments, including the National Wealth Fund and UK Export Finance, which have already provided over £165 million in support to key mineral companies. This includes a £31m investment in Cornish Lithium to progress two major mining projects.
Electricity costs for mineral producers will be reduced by the UK’s upcoming Industrial Competitiveness Program (BICS), with a consultation on eligibility due to launch shortly. The strategy also commits to accelerated environmental approval for innovative mining and recycling projects.
To bolster resilience, the government is considering stockpiling critical minerals for defense applications. The UK is participating in NATO’s Critical Mineral Stockpiling Project, which is examining ways to secure supplies of magnets, battery materials and other components essential to military systems.
The plan also strengthens international partnerships with resource-rich countries to diversify supply chains while leveraging the UK’s leadership in finance, science, mining engineering and clean technology innovation.
Cornish Lithium CEO Jamie Airnes said it provided “a clear strategic framework” for establishing large-scale domestic production.
Jeff Townsend of the Critical Minerals Association said it recognized that modern industries “are only as strong as the minerals and materials on which they depend.”
Tom McCulley, CEO of Anglo American Crop Nutrients, said the UK now has “an opportunity to drive investment and growth through a modern mining industry”.
Critical minerals currently contribute £1.79 billion to the UK economy and support more than 50,000 jobs. More than 50 UK projects are already underway to extract and refine these materials, with a focus on the North East, Teesside, Devon, Cornwall, Wales and Northern Ireland – the latter being home to pioneering magnetic recycling technologies developed at Queen’s University Belfast and Ionic Technologies.
Ministers said the new strategy would be integrated into the government’s modern industrial strategy, ensuring industries from advanced manufacturing to clean energy had the secure material foundation needed for long-term competitiveness.
