Morning, Wednesday, 24th September 2025
Online
This conference will examine the future direction of UK critical minerals policy - including next steps and strategic considerations for securing resilient supply chains, developing sustainable domestic production, and supporting economic and environmental priorities.
Policy and strategy
It will bring together key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy expected to be published soon, which aims to secure the UK’s supply of minerals by optimising domestic resources through innovation, R&D and enhancing international collaboration. Delegates will also discuss implications of findings in the British Geological Survey’s UK 2024 Criticality Assessment, highlighting a rise in the number of materials classed as critical, growing exposure to geopolitical and trade-related risks, and varying potential for domestic supply and recycling.
With the 2025 Spending Review, the recently published Industrial Strategy, and Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan identifying critical minerals as foundational to clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors, we expect discussion on the potential contributions of mechanisms such as the National Wealth Fund and British Business Bank in supporting supply chain investor confidence. Delegates will also examine issues around regulatory clarity and certainty, permitting processes, and practical considerations for the implementation of policy aims.
Meeting demand and skills needs
We also expect discussion on wider policy and economic considerations, including implications of changes to planning policy and regulation related to infrastructure and economically-sensitive projects, the role of Industrial Strategy in fostering innovation in critical minerals production and supply, and support needed for regional investment. Discussion will also centre on priorities for skills development and securing a workforce equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving critical minerals supply chain.
Supply chain resilience, support and global trade
Strategic considerations and latest thinking on reducing reliance on mineral imports will be discussed. Delegates will examine Government ambitions to diversify sources, including supplier nations, and strengthen access to critical materials for sectors including defence, aerospace and renewable energy - as well as the use of support mechanisms such as UK Export Finance.
The UK’s approach to international trade relationships in securing critical mineral supplies will be considered, examining recent agreements such as those with Canada, Australia, and Kazakhstan, and implications of geopolitical developments, including China’s position in critical mineral supply chains and recent restrictions on exports of key materials.
Further areas for discussion include the UK’s ability to compete internationally for secure supply, options for improving transparency across complex international supply routes, and frameworks for how government and industry can work together to anticipate and manage potential disruptions.
Domestic supply and sustainability
The agenda looks at strategies for advancing domestic extraction whilst accounting for environmental and ethical priorities, including options for traceability and sustainability standards in the responsible sourcing of minerals. Delegates will consider alignment with international best practice and recommendations from the International Energy Agency, such as implementation of traceability mechanisms outlined in their 2025 roadmap for responsible mineral supply chains.
Further sessions will examine options for increasing recycling capacity to mitigate supply risks, with discussion on investment, regulatory, and international cooperation frameworks necessary to support a stable and competitive critical minerals sector.
Further areas for discussion include:
- policy and strategy:
- options for streamlining regulatory processes to enable secure and sustainable supply - priorities for industry standards and international cooperation in policy design
- policy incentives to support the development of secondary supply chains - potential for stockpiling or strategic reserves - collaboration within the Minerals Security Partnership
- domestic production and sustainability:
- assessing the viability of UK-based extraction and processing - investment and infrastructure needs
- expanding critical mineral recycling to reduce reliance on primary extraction - feasibility of large-scale commercial recycling - integrating recycling into net zero strategies
- IEA recommendations on recycling and traceability, and the UK’s forthcoming Circular Economy Strategy
- assessing what can be learned from international best practice in sustainable critical mineral supply
- funding: attracting international and domestic capital into the UK’s critical minerals sector - assessing potential incentives such as subsidies, tax reliefs, and UK Export Finance backing
- regional development and skills: funding and training for growing a skilled workforce for extraction, processing, and recycling - long-term workforce planning and UK Industrial Strategy
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from DESNZ; DBT; Dstl; DfT; NISTA; MOD; NIC; FCDO; the Welsh Government.
