Critical Minerals 2023-05-18
2023-05-18
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about securing a resilient supply of critical minerals to avoid reliance on China.
What steps her Department is taking to support the critical minerals industry. The demand for graphite, lithium and cobalt is expected to quadruple by the 2040s. With supply currently dominated by China, what can the Government do to extract rapidly the deposits identified in all four nations of the United Kingdom so that we can gain a climate action dividend and level up the United Kingdom?
As part of the UK's strategy, we are accelerating domestic capabilities along the whole critical minerals value chain from mining to manufacturing. We published a refreshed delivery approach including the establishment of an industry taskforce on critical minerals. The Government is funding projects such as Cornish Lithium and Green Lithium, which build resilient value chains here in the UK.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps for rapid extraction and reducing reliance on China were not provided.
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Concerns about the lack of understanding of environmental impacts from deep-sea mining.
Many are clamouring for the rights for deep-sea mining to extract critical minerals, but we know little about the seabed and the knock-on effects there could be on the environment and ecology of the deep sea and the wider oceans. Will the Minister continue to support a moratorium on deep-sea mining through the International Seabed Authority until we have a better understanding of those environmental impacts?
There is no deep-sea mining currently happening in areas beyond national jurisdictions. The UK has committed not to sponsor or support the issue of any exploitation licences for deep-sea mining projects unless and until there is significant scientific evidence about the potential impact on deep-sea ecosystems.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP wants to know about the Government's support for domestic extraction of critical minerals.
What steps her Department is taking to support the critical minerals industry. The demand for graphite, lithium and cobalt is expected to quadruple by the 2040s. With supply currently dominated by China, what can the Government do to extract rapidly the deposits identified in all four nations of the United Kingdom so that we can gain a climate action dividend and level up the United Kingdom?
My hon. Friend is right. One reason why I came back into government was to ensure that we were not reliant on one country, China. We need more lithium, cobalt and graphite as does everybody else to make batteries for electric cars, and we need silicon and tin for electronics. We welcome the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre's report which we commissioned.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps for rapid extraction and reducing reliance on China were not provided.
Response accuracy