Critical Minerals: Domestic Production

The hon. Member cautions against following Australia's example of exporting lithium to China without domestic battery production, advocating for an integrated approach including upstream demand.

The hon. Member supports the Government's commitment to a new strategy for critical minerals security and emphasises the economic benefits for companies like Panther Metals in his constituency.

Mr. Andrew George highlighted the importance of a clear strategy for critical minerals, building on previous work by emphasizing environmental considerations and the need for modern technologies to minimize negative impacts. He also called for greater access to training and skills development within the industry. He is grateful to the Minister for her response and asks if she is willing to investigate further the issue of smaller projects, particularly those at the critical exploration stage, not being able to take advantage of the national wealth fund. As the Lib Dem spokesperson, the MP made a thoughtful speech supporting the Government's initiatives in critical minerals production and welcomed the inclusion of tin on the list of critical minerals. He emphasized the need for clear targets and accountability.

He discussed the importance of critical minerals for transitioning to clean energy, highlighting that demand is expected to quadruple by 2040. He also mentioned the UK's reliance on international supply chains and the need to maximise domestic production to boost resilience and security. The shadow Minister questioned the previous government's strategy and criticized the current administration for delaying electric vehicle mandates, but acknowledged that some of these issues were inherited from the previous regime. He highlighted the importance of critical minerals for future industries.

Jim Shannon praised the debate on critical minerals, highlighting its importance and mentioning specific minerals like lithium, cobalt, and graphite. He referred to a British Geological Survey report identifying Northern Ireland's mid-County Tyrone as prospective areas for critical raw minerals. Shannon also discussed historical mining activities in Northern Ireland and emphasized the need for discussions between departments and devolved institutions to enhance opportunities for mineral production. The MP highlighted the importance of engaging with Northern Ireland to develop a UK-wide strategy for critical minerals. He suggested that mining in Northern Ireland could contribute to this effort, referencing the book 'Material World' by Ed Conway on salt and its significance.

The hon. Member welcomes a memorandum of understanding between Cornish Lithium and LevertonHELM, which will support the UK's battery sector and enhance competitiveness in automotive manufacturing.

The hon. Member argues that the list of critical minerals needs to evolve to accommodate domestic mineral production, such as polyhalite in his constituency, which is crucial for food security.

Cornwall, particularly Noah Law's constituency of St Austell and Newquay, is home to the largest lithium resource in Europe. He emphasized the economic potential for Cornwall and the UK's green energy transition through domestic production of critical minerals like lithium. The speaker highlighted concerns over national security risks associated with dependency on imported minerals from geopolitically unstable regions. Addressing skills shortages, he called for investment in educational institutions such as Camborne School of Mines and Truro STEM centre to train future workers. Additionally, Law stressed the need for improved infrastructure including housing and transport links to support industry growth.

The regulatory framework for companies trying to invest in lithium is not supportive, and they face waits of one or two years for planning approval from the Environment Agency. Nissan in Sunderland is not happy with the current situation as it had a plan in place to hit the 2030 target for electric vehicles.

The MP for Bournemouth East highlighted the importance of developing a green economy in the south-west, which is rich in critical minerals such as lithium and tin. He praised the Camborne School of Mines at the University of Exeter for its £4.5 million project to accelerate mining of these minerals. The speaker also criticised the previous government's handling of the cost of living crisis and their delayed approach towards clean energy infrastructure. The MP spoke about opportunities related to critical minerals in the south-west region, focusing on the Camborne School of Mines. He addressed skills development needs for these industries.