https://www.svemin.se/aktuellt/nyhet/viktig-politisk-signal-med-mal-for-okad-gruvbrytning-i-eu/
"Important political signal with targets for increased mining in the EU 2023-04-19
In March, the EU launched a large legislative package on critical raw materials ("Critical Raw Material Act"). As part of this, indicative targets are set for increased diversification of the supply chain and increased ability to produce within the EU. This is good. It is the first time that the EU takes raw material issues seriously and also points to the importance of taking measures to reduce the EU's vulnerability. And the political signal from the EU is clear when you also set a goal – increased extraction of strategic materials within the EU is central to the legislation.
The EU is currently heavily dependent on imports of the raw materials identified as critical and strategic for, among other things, renewable energy, electromobility, the defense and space industries. In many cases, we are basically well dependent on a single country, China. By 2030, they want to both diversify by creating better trade relations with more countries with which the EU shares values, as well as increase the capacity for production within the EU. These two actions are not competing but we will need both.
The clear ambition to increase mining within the EU and make use of the potential that exists must also permeate other acts such as the Nature Restoration Regulation and the Industry Emissions Directive so that these steer towards the same vision and do not stand in opposition to each other and endanger the EU's net zero vision in 2045. In a recent report from the OECD entitled "The supply of critical raw materials risks jeopardizing the green transition", it is emphasized, among other things, that although there are large production volume increases of lithium and rare earth metals, among other things, this is far from the four- to sixfold increases in demand for the green transition. The OECD notes that the trend of increasing export restrictions may play a role in key international markets, with potentially significant effects on both availability and prices of these materials.
The EU and Sweden have great potential to increase mining within the EU. Today, too little money is invested in the EU on exploration, the first stage in the mine's life cycle. It is therefore good that it is also pointed out that each member state needs to set up national programs to increase knowledge of what is in our bedrock. On the occasion of the Critical Raw Material Act, Svemin is holding a seminar on April 27 at the Swedish representation in Brussels to highlight how the Swedish mining industry can contribute to a sustainably produced raw material supply in the EU. We know that we are at the forefront and that we have potential.
On April 25-26, Svemin is also a co-organizer of the GREENPEG International Conference on Europe's raw material supply security against the background of its economically viable raw material potential and the current geopolitics. And within the framework of SKGS, a report on the industry's electricity needs until 2030 is being launched today, which will be available on SKGS's website."
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