Debate on domestic production of critical minerals

In April 2024, the Library published a debate pack ahead of a debate on Supply of lithium and other critical minerals. The pack contains a useful overview of the issues. In addition, the attached documents include updated recent Parliamentary material and news items. 

Since the April debate on Supply of lithium and other critical minerals there have been some industry updates, for example:

• Cornish Lithium opened their hard-rock demonstration plant near Treviscoe in Cornwall which aims to produce lithium hydroxide for use in batteries.
• Green Lithium (a lithium refiner) partnered with energy supplier EDF on using hydrogen as a feedstock for its lithium refinery in Teesside.
• The Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that UK Export Finance (the government’s export credit agency) will offer support for overseas projects the supply critical minerals to the UK with the aim of increasing and diversifying the UK’s access to critical minerals.