Raw materials

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

Deep-sea mining: criticism of the Seabed Authority
After three weeks of negotiations at the International Seabed Authority in Jamaica, it is clear that there will be no green light for deep-sea mining until at least 2025. However, the debate on a moratorium was prevented. continue reading →
No trade agreement with Australia for the time being
For the time being, nothing will come of the rapid conclusion of an Australian-European free trade agreement demanded by German business. Both sides had not managed to complete the negotiations, said a spokesman for the EU Commission on Tuesday in Brussels. The EU and Australia had begun negotiations in 2018 and most recently held out […] continue reading →
CRMA in the Council: final spurt for negotiating mandate
The Swedish Council Presidency has prepared a final compromise proposal for the negotiating mandate on the Critical Raw Materials Act, which will be considered by the ambassadors of the EU member states (Coreper I) tomorrow, Friday. It is possible that they will already agree on a mandate then. The proposal, first published by the news […] continue reading →
Critical raw materials: Germany, France and Italy set up working group
At a meeting in Berlin yesterday, German Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck and his counterparts from France and Italy, Bruno Le Maire and Adolfo Urso, announced increased cooperation in the area of critical raw materials. To this end, the three countries want to set up a high-level working group to exchange views on issues […] continue reading →
Court of Auditors: Problems in EU battery industry jeopardize climate targets
The EU battery industry may not be able to meet demand beyond 2025. As a result, there is a risk that the EU will either miss its 2035 CO2 targets or would have to meet this target through imported batteries or electric cars, which would harm the European industry. This is the conclusion of a […] continue reading →
Argentina and EU agree on raw materials partnership
Argentina’s President Alberto Fernández and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed a memorandum of understanding on sustainable commodity value chains in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. The partnership envisages cooperation on climate-friendly infrastructure projects and new research on commodity value chains.“This is a major step forward for the EU’s climate goals and benefits Argentina […] continue reading →
CRMA: Sweden to raise benchmarks
The Swedish Council Presidency wants to increase the benchmarks proposed in the Commission’s draft Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) for recycling and reprocessing capacities in the EU. This is according to a compromise proposal from Sweden published yesterday by Contexte.According to the still-incomplete proposal, Sweden wants to raise the benchmark for increasing domestic recycling capacity […] continue reading →
Recycled metals belong in the raw materials club
After the climate clubs, the world is discussing raw material clubs. Murat Bayram and Kilian Schwaiger explain in their Opinion why the metal recycling industry also belongs on the guest list of raw material clubs. continue reading →
CRMA: Beers draft report
Today, Rapporteur Nicola Beer (Renew) publishes her draft report on the Critical Raw Materials Act. Table.Media was able to get an insight in advance. continue reading →
Raw materials strategy: German government works on fund and strategic reserves
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Technology (BMWK) and the German Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) are working on a raw materials fund to support raw materials projects in Germany and abroad. Both ministries confirmed this on request. They are also looking at ways to incentivize strategic stockpiling of critical raw materials. Both […] continue reading →
With resource conservation against global environmental crises 
At least half of all greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the extraction and processing of resources. A circular economy can limit consumption – a decisive but often overlooked lever in climate action and nature protection. At their meeting in Japan, the G7 environment ministers are working to change that.  continue reading →
Ahead of the CRMA: Europe’s first lithium converter
Brandenburg as a model student of the EU: More and more projects are strengthening the local value chain for batteries. Yesterday, the German-Canadian company Rock Tech unveiled Europe's first lithium converter at a groundbreaking ceremony. continue reading →
Critical raw materials: 40 percent processing in the EU ‘too ambitious’
The goal of the Critical Raw Materials Act presented last week to cover 40 percent of the EU’s demand for strategic raw materials from its own processing is considered unrealistic by representatives from politics, industry and civil society. Speaking at a Europe.Table event on the new draft law on Wednesday, Hildegard Bentele (EPP) said this […] continue reading →
CRMA: Commodity projects get priority
Yesterday, the Commission presented its draft for the Critical Raw Materials Act. Along the value chain, projects for 16 strategic raw materials are to be given top priority. Criticism has been levelled above all at the requirements for strengthening the circular economy. continue reading →
Hannah Pilgrim – rare earth elements as a life theme
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 30-year-old coordinates the working group network AK Rohstoffe at the NGO Powershift. She demands […] continue reading →
Raw Materials Act: the EU Commission’s plans
According to the EU Commission, the EU is to cover a significant share of its own demand for critical raw materials by 2030. To this end, local value chains are to be rapidly strengthened: Europe.Table has looked at the leaked draft of the Critical Raw Materials Act. continue reading →
Due diligence: lawsuit against Total rejected
It was the first lawsuit filed under France’s supply chain law: NGOs, led by Friends of the Earth France, sued energy company TotalEnergies in 2019 for violating due diligence on an oil pipeline project in Uganda. On Tuesday, they hoped for a landmark ruling after three years of litigation. But the Paris court declared the […] continue reading →
Study: Inconsistent standards and lack of transparency in metal supply chains
Inconsistent standards, lack of transparency and power asymmetries in supply chains weaken the sustainability governance of metal supply chains in the EU. At the same time, current geopolitical challenges and the goal of security of supply also threaten to undermine sustainable supply chain efforts. That is the conclusion of a study published Friday by the […] continue reading →