Self-sufficiency of the European Union in critical raw materials for E-mobility
Maarten Koese, Michael Parzer, Benjamin Sprecher, René Kleijn
Abstract
• The European Union intends to increase self-sufficiency regarding critical raw materials mining to at least 10 % in 2030. • For Cu, Li, Ni, planned extraction in Europe is sufficient to meet this target for E-mobility demand, but for Co, graphite and REEs it is not. • European self-sufficiency could be improved considerably if extraction plans are accelerated, but sustainability needs to be secured. • Demand should be reduced through implementing circular economy and changing social practices. Widespread adoption of electric vehicles poses challenges due to critical raw material (CRM) requirements. The European Union (EU) is now dependent on other countries for supply of these materials, but wants to increase self-sufficiency for primary extraction to 10 % in 2030. Here we map and quantify Europe's raw material reserves and resources, revealing promising deposits for most minerals. Our analysis indicates that, assuming a high development scenario, for lithium, nickel and copper the planned extraction in Europe is sufficient to meet at least 10 % ofdemand for E-mobility in 2030, as the EU's proposed target dictates. The projected extraction of cobalt, natural graphite and REE, will probably not reach 10 % of the demand in 2030. For REE there is no European production projected. To meet these targets and increase the EU's self-sufficiency, CRM extraction in Europe needs to increase, in parallel with implementing circular economy efforts to reduce material demand.