Critical Raw Materials (CRM) and ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF GB

 ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF GB
A Critical Raw Materials (CRM) list identifies raw materials of high economic importance to a region and have a high risk associated with their supply. These materials are crucial for various strategic industries and the overall functioning of the economy. It's important to note that there isn't a single global list, as different countries and regions have their own assessments based on their specific economic and strategic needs.

However, several lists are influential, particularly those compiled by the European Union (EU).

EU Critical Raw Materials List 2023

The European Commission updates its list of CRMs approximately every three years. The 2023 list, the fifth such iteration, includes 34 critical raw materials. These are materials deemed essential for the EU's economy and for which there is a high supply risk.

The list includes (but is not limited to):

 * Aluminum/Bauxite

 * Antimony

 * Arsenic

 * Baryte

 * Beryllium

 * Bismuth

 * Boron/Borates

 * Coking Coal

 * Cobalt

 * Copper

 * Feldspar

 * Fluorspar

 * Gallium

 * Germanium

 * Graphite (Natural)

 * Hafnium

 * Helium

 * Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs), including Dysprosium, Erbium, Europium, Gadolinium, Holmium, Lutetium, Terbium, Thulium, Ytterbium, and Yttrium.

 * Light Rare Earth Elements (LREEs), including Cerium, Lanthanum, Neodymium, Praseodymium, and Samarium.

 * Lithium

 * Magnesium

 * Manganese

 * Nickel (battery grade)

 * Niobium

 * Phosphate Rock

 * Phosphorus

 * Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), including Iridium, Palladium, Platinum, Rhodium, and Ruthenium.

 * Scandium

 * Silicon Metal

 * Strontium

 * Tantalum

 * Titanium Metal

 * Tungsten

 * Vanadium

Strategic Raw Materials (SRMs)

Within the 2023 EU list, a subset of 16 materials are also identified as Strategic Raw Materials (SRMs). These are considered even more critical due to their growing demand in strategic sectors like renewable energy, digital technologies, space, and defense, and face a higher risk of supply issues in the near future.

The SRMs within the 2023 EU list are:

 * Aluminum/Bauxite

 * Bismuth

 * Cobalt

 * Copper

 * Gallium

 * Germanium

 * Graphite (Natural)

 * Heavy Rare Earth Elements

 * Lithium

 * Light Rare Earth Elements

 * Manganese

 * Nickel (battery grade)

 * Platinum Group Metals

 * Silicon Metal

 * Titanium Metal

 * Tungsten

Importance of Critical Raw Materials

CRMs are essential for a wide range of applications, including:

 * Green Technologies: Wind turbines (rare earth elements), solar panels (silicon), electric vehicles (lithium, cobalt, manganese, natural graphite, nickel), and energy-efficient lighting.

 * Digital Technologies: Semiconductors (silicon, gallium, germanium), electronics, and telecommunications.

 * Aerospace and Defense: High-performance alloys (cobalt, titanium, aluminum), electronic components, and specialized materials.

 * Healthcare: Medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

 * Other Industries: Steelmaking, chemicals, and various manufacturing processes.

Supply Risks

The supply of CRMs can be at risk due to several factors, including:

 * Geopolitical Issues: Concentration of production in a few countries, trade policies, and political instability.

 * Resource Depletion: Limited availability of certain minerals.

 * Environmental Regulations: Restrictions on mining and processing.

 * Technological Changes: Rapidly increasing demand for specific materials due to emerging technologies.

 * Processing Complexity: Some CRMs require complex and energy-intensive extraction and refining processes.

NATO's List of Defence-Critical Raw Materials

In December 2024, NATO also released its list of 12 defence-critical raw materials essential for the Allied defense industry:

 * Aluminum

 * Beryllium

 * Cobalt

 * Gallium

 * Germanium

 * Graphite

 * Lithium

 * Manganese

 * Platinum

 * Rare Earth Elements

 * Titanium

 * Tungsten

This list highlights the importance of securing the supply of these materials for maintaining technological superiority and operational readiness in the defense sector.

Understanding these critical raw material lists is crucial for governments and industries to develop strategies for secure and sustainable access to these vital resources. This includes promoting domestic production, diversifying supply chains, enhancing recycling efforts, and investing in research and development of alternative materials.