TO BE PUBLISHED October 2025
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This conference will examine the future direction of UK critical minerals policy. We expect discussion to focus on securing resilient supply chains, developing sustainable domestic production, and ensuring long-term economic and environmental security.
It will bring together key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss implications of the British Geological Survey’s UK 2024 Criticality Assessment and the forthcoming Critical Minerals Strategy. Delegates will consider concerns over increasing vulnerabilities associated with supply chain dependencies, the Government’s ambitions for diversifying sources, and the role of financial support mechanisms such as UK Export Finance in securing essential materials for key industries, including defence, aerospace, and renewable energy.
Delegates will assess the UK’s approach to international trade relationships in securing critical mineral supplies, considering 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 sessions will assess strategies for advancing domestic extraction whilst accounting for environmental and ethical priorities, including the role of traceability and sustainability standards in the responsible sourcing of minerals. Attendees will examine options for increasing recycling capacity to mitigate supply risks and explore the investment, regulatory, and international cooperation frameworks necessary to support a stable and competitive critical minerals sector.
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, support needed for regional investment, and priorities for skills development and securing a workforce equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving critical minerals supply chain.
With the agenda currently in the drafting stage, overall areas for discussion include:
- policy:
- priorities for the UK Critical Minerals Strategy - options for regulatory and policy measures to enhance supply chain resilience
- achieving security of supply whilst adhering to environmental and ethical standards - alignment with industrial strategy and net zero goals
- options for streamlining regulatory processes to enable secure and sustainable supply - priorities for industry standards and the role of international cooperation in policy design
- supply chain:
- strengthening security of the UK's access to critical minerals - strategic options for addressing reliance on imports
- priorities for international partnerships and trade agreements - potential for stockpiling or strategic reserves
- domestic production:
- assessing the viability of UK-based extraction and processing - investment and infrastructure needs
- balancing ESG considerations with economic opportunities - planning policy and regulatory reform - implications for permitting and land access
- circular economy:
- options for expanding critical mineral recycling to reduce reliance on primary extraction - feasibility of large-scale commercial recycling
- policy incentives to support development secondary supply chains - integrating recycling into net zero strategies
- international relationships:
- the developing role of the UK in global critical minerals supply chains - partnerships with Canada, Australia, and other key suppliers
- assessing risks of geopolitical tensions and export restrictions, and possible responses - opportunities for collaboration within the Minerals Security Partnership
- funding:
- the roles of public and private investment in securing critical mineral supply - attracting international and domestic capital into the UK’s critical minerals sector
- assessing potential incentives such as subsidies, tax reliefs, or financial backing through UK Export Finance
- environmental and ethical priorities:
- mitigating risks in mining and processing - securing ethical sourcing and responsible supply chains - traceability and transparency measures
- assessing what can be learned from international best practice in sustainable critical mineral supply
- regional development and skills:
- priorities for securing regional investment for critical minerals industries - developing a skilled workforce for extraction, processing, and recycling
- funding for skills development and training - long-term workforce planning and UK industrial strategy
