Report: Metals and minerals for sustainable development and strengthened competitiveness
Secure access to strategic metals and minerals is essential for the transition to a fossil-free and competitive society. This final report from IVA's project Roadmap for Metals and Minerals presents a number of concrete proposals which can form the basis for a new Swedish mineral strategy.
It is very important that Sweden quickly accelerates Europe's efforts to become more self-sufficient in terms of metals and minerals
"Europe is currently far too dependent on a few companies and countries outside the EU to control mineral resources and value chains," says Elisabeth Nilsson, Steering Committee Chair.
Pathways for metals and minerals
Through the project Roadmap for Metals and Minerals, IVA wants to provide concrete proposals on how Sweden can contribute to the supply of metals and minerals while strengthening Swedish and European competitiveness. This final report presents six pathways, with associated recommendations.
- Sweden should take a leading role in Europe's supply of metals and minerals.
- Strengthen the Swedish mining, mining technology and recycling industries.
- Simplify reuse and material recycling.
- Create new international strategic partnerships, and strengthen existing ones.
- Develop and streamline authorisation processes and tools to manage conflicts of objectives and interests.
- Wide-ranging investment in knowledge, research and innovation on metals and minerals.
Demand for metals and minerals rises sharply
Secure access to strategic metals and minerals is essential for the transition to a fossil-free and competitive society. Demand for metals and minerals will increase sharply as fossil fuels are phased out in response to increased electrification and the implementation of new technologies. Today, control of mineral resources and value chains lies with a few companies and countries outside the EU.
Europe's supply chains are highly vulnerable. That became clear with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis that followed. Before that, the pandemic showed how dependent Europe is on imports of strategic components. The importance of controlling strategic raw materials and components is evident, not least in the technology race between the United States and China. The issue has become a much higher priority in the EU in recent years.
Sweden is one of Europe's most important mining countries in terms of technology and production and is a pioneer in the field of sustainability. This offers great opportunities to develop and strengthen our industry and economy while playing an essential role in Europe's supply of metals and minerals.
IVA aims to contribute to sustainable development, and to strengthen competitiveness. An important prerequisite for this is scientific foresight and a greater level of knowledge within society.
IVA's Roadmap for Metals and Minerals project aims to help Sweden and Europe secure long-term, sustainable access to the critical metals and minerals that are needed for a transition to a fossil-free society, and to strengthen competitiveness.
