UK 2024 criticality assessment

Mudd, G.; Josso, P.; Shaw, R.; Luce, A.; Singh, N.; Horn, S.; Bide, T.; Currie, D.; Elliott, H.; Grant, H.; Halkes, R.; Idoine, N.; Mitchell, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5911-5668; Watkins, I.; Price, F.; Petavratzi, E.. 2024 UK 2024 criticality assessment. Nottingham, UK, British Geological Survey, 250pp. (OR/24/047) (Unpublished)

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text OR24047_report.pdf Download (26MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

As the UK moves to net zero greenhouse gas emissions, a wide variety of raw materials will be needed in increasing quantities to meet demand for the energy transition and for other modern technologies, industrial sectors and societal goals. These raw materials, which are crucial to the UK economy, often have complex supply chains originating in mines around the world. It should be noted that industrial strategies are underpinned by secure and sustainable raw material supply chains. The minerals and metals with the greatest economic importance and the highest risk of supply disruption are characterised as 'critical minerals' to the UK. In this repot, the term 'raw materials' is used in a general sense to refer to all metals, minerals and gases used in any sectors of the economy. The term 'critical minerals' is used to describe the subset of raw materials that are identified as critical through a criticality assessment. This report provides the 2024 update of the UK's raw material criticality assessment (CA) undertaken by the British Geological Survey (BGS)-hosted Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC) as commissioned by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The assessment aims to identify the raw materials that are crucial for the economic prosperity, national security and ongoing technological development of the UK, but have a significant risk of supply disruption. Identification of raw materials critical to the UK enables the mitigation of risk by: - strengthening international and domestic supply chains - developing sustainable trade relationships - supporting domestic mineral production - increasing the use of secondary resources and other circular economy strategies This assessment replaces the original UK Criticality Assessment (December 2021), incorporating the latest data (2018 to 2022) and expanded methodology. The number of evaluated ('candidate') materials has grown significantly, from 26 in 2021 to 82 in 2024. Candidates include most raw materials used in the UK manufacturing sector, energy, technologies, transport, aerospace and defence applications, and in information and communication technologies. The methodology incorporates environmental, social and governance standards and improved criticality quantification to deliver an impartial assessment of available data. Importantly, this methodology is based on quantitative data and this describes the criticality of raw materials at the time of publication. The assessment does not take account of supply and demand forecasts or any other changes that may take place in minerals markets in the coming years, as such changes cannot be accurately quantified.

Item Type:	Publication - Report
Funders/Sponsors:	British Geological Survey, Department for Business & Trade
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	This item has been internally reviewed, but not externally peer-reviewed.
Date made live:	29 Nov 2024 09:59 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538471

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...