Europe.EN Raw materials strategy

Europe wants the energy transition - but it requires raw materials for solar cells and electric cars, including chrome, platinum and iron ore from South Africa. In February, Hannah Pilgrim met with South African organizations representing miners and local residents.

The EU Commission wants to improve monitoring and risk management for the supply of critical raw materials and create a central coordinating body for this purpose. It is not yet clear what form this should take: Is stronger cooperation between national authorities sufficient? Or does the EU even need an active raw materials agency based on the Japanese model?

Von Leonie Düngefeld

During his visit to the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) in Hanover yesterday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the importance of closer coordination of raw materials strategies between Germany and Japan. He said the German government wants to work closely with Japan in the area of the supply of strategically important raw materials.

Von Newsdesk

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action is working on key points to make domestic mining more ecological. The mining industry sees no need for action here – but hopes for faster approval procedures.

Von Leonie Düngefeld