On the Possibilities of Critical Raw Materials Production from the EU’s Primary Sources

Sufficient supplies of critical raw materials (CRMs) for rapidly developing technologies, e.g., Li-ion batteries, wind turbines, photovoltaics, digitization, etc., have become one the main economic challenges EU. Due to growing import dependency and associated risk supply disruptions these from third countries, there is a need encourage their domestic production. This an important starting point EU value chains crucial sustainable growth whole Union. contribution has evaluated possibilities CRMs EU’s primary sources. A three-step approach, including assessment CRMs’ importance growth, significance in at least two three strategic industrial sectors (i.e., renewable energy, e-mobility, defense aerospace), potential availability mineral deposits, been applied. Results analysis shown that, 29 (according 2020 EC list), develop manufacturing Union deposits exists 11 CRMs, i.e., cobalt, graphite (natural), HREE, LREE, lithium, magnesium, niobium, PGMs, silicon metal, titanium, tungsten, while some other namely gallium, germanium, indium, vanadium can be recovered as by-products. Measures mitigate also proposed.