Lithium, Cobalt, and Rare Earths: Chinese Hegemony in the EU Energy Transition

critical raw materials

Robotics, artificial intelligence, electric cars, biotechnologies, cyber security, the Internet of Things, and all those that are engines of the economy of the future depend on rare earths. These materials are particularly important for environmental transmission because they are used in wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, and batteries. According to the European Union, the important raw materials include about thirty elements including: lithium, cobalt, gallium, germanium, tungsten, antimony, beryllium, graphite, vanadium and so-called rare earths. According to the estimates of the European Union Commission, the European Union’s demand for rare earths will increase sixfold by 2030 and sevenfold by 2050, while the demand for lithium will increase twelvefold by 2030 and twentyfold by 2050. In common with each other: they are present in The earth’s crust is in small proportions and has exceptional properties, highly appreciated by the technology industry, which for this very reason relies on these raw materials. The market for these raw materials is dominated by China, which controls the supply chain from extraction to marketing. Its exploitation causes serious environmental damage, especially in countries of extraction. Far from the West, which made these matters the key to the green transition and more generally to its technological development.

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April 12, 2023

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