Britain May Seek Key Minerals From The Seabed To Wean Itself Off Foreign Dependence

Britain could start mining in coastal areas under government plans to wean itself off foreign dependence on key raw materials, The Daily Telegraph said on July 23.

Ministers have drawn up plans to "nationally assess" and encourage commercial exploitation of the minerals needed to make mobile phones, electric car batteries and electronic products, the report said.

Although a significant proportion of the minerals will come from land, part of the initiative also includes understanding "the risks and potential of mining minerals from coastal waters in an environmentally responsible manner."

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Reports say concerns about supply chains are growing following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Energy and commodity flows have been disrupted by sanctions and geopolitics, and countries are paying close attention to where they can secure critical resources.

Setting out a key new minerals strategy this week, Kwasi Kwarten, the UK's secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, said the UK market was vulnerable to "market shocks, geopolitical events and logistical disruptions".

"We are seeking to strengthen energy security and increase the resilience of our domestic industry, while moving away from expensive and volatile fossil fuels," he added. In this context, critical minerals will become even more important."

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As the world shifts to greener energy sources, demand for raw materials such as lithium, niobium and ruthenium will increase. These raw materials are crucial to the production of clean energy technologies such as batteries.

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The Crown Estate Authority licenses mining along the coasts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK also has a sizeable dredging industry, providing sand and stone for construction and engineering projects.

In 2020, the Crown Estate Authority granted permission for Cornish Lithium to explore for the mineral in geothermal water off the north and south coast of Cornwall. Mining companies including Cornish Lithium are riding a new wave of lithium mining in the UK, driven by the country's growing demand for electric car batteries.

Britain is also exploring opportunities in the Pacific using controversial deep seabed mining technology, the report said.

The British government is backing Subsea Resources UK, a subsidiary of defence giant Lockheed Martin, in its application for an exploration licence.