Lithium is a critical raw material for the production of the batteries on which our energy transition depends. Today, the European cleantech industry is heavily reliant on China, which dominates global refining of this resource and uses it as a geostrategic tool. Yet Europe itself possesses large, untapped reserves. What is preventing Europe from extracting and refining lithium on its own soil? Would this create the environmental problems of tomorrow, or are there now responsible technologies available? Could exploitation in Europe be inefficient, or are other concerns at play? Peter Tom Jones (KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals, SIM²) addressed these questions during the Metaforum afternoon discussion (9 October). Stef Proost (FEB KU Leuven) joined him in conversation. The full recording is available below.
FULL VIDEO RECORDING:
Europa’s lithiumparadox: To mine or not to mine? — Metaforum
SUMMARY LECTURE P.T. JONES: "To mine or not to mine lithium in Europe, that is the question"
Exceptional times require exceptional measures. And the EU, and its citizens, need to wake up to this harsh reality. We can no longer rely on China for the CRMs for our cleantech & digital applications. In the same vein we can no longer rely on the US for our defense. In the entropic world order, we urgently need to sort out our own future, which means getting to grips with the mine-to-cleantech value chains, boosting production, refining and recycling of our CRMs; taking care of the midstream (e.g. p/CAM, rare-earth magnet) production & downstream manufacturing of batteries, e-motors, e-buses/vehicles…. Without this cleantech also Leuven 2030 becomes a theoretical construct.
MAKE IN EUROPE/BUY EUROPEAN
We need a paradigm shift towards vertically-integrated “Made in Europe” value chains and “Buy European” support schemes (e.g. green public procurement favouring ESGI-friendly, local and recycled content; output-based production support. Opening responsible mines, refineries & recycling plants in Europe is of the essence. This is not going to be easy, given the lack of public support for a green (re)industrialization of Europe.
TO MAKE HASTE SLOWLY
In deranged geopolitical times, the EU needs to make haste in advancing its domestic mining & refining projects (cf. CRMA). “While we are talking, the Chinese are digging”. Failure to act would leave EU irreversibly behind in the race for critical mineral security and strategic autonomy, accelerating deindustrialisation, and fueling extreme-right movements that thrive on unemployment and despair, ultimately leading to a rejection of climate goals. BUT… this urgent need for primary metal mining and refining cannot be rushed at the expense of hashtag#localcommunities. True engagement, beyond "public acceptance" or "societal readiness" (sic), is essential. The future must be built with hashtag#civilsociety, not in opposition to it. Let’s rethink conventional mining practices and embrace Responsible Mining v2.0, a model where local communities aren’t passive bystanders but genuine beneficiaries and even shareholders.
EUROPE's LITHIUM PARADOX
Europe's Lithium Paradox – Journeyman Pictures
