Critical Mineral Intelligence Centre hosts second conference
The Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre conference took place at BGS’s headquarters in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire.
28/02/2025 By BGS Press
Hosted by BGS and supported by the Department for Business & Trade (DBT), the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC) delivers authoritative, impartial and independent, up-to-date data, information and analysis about critical minerals for the UK’s economy.
CMIC’s second conference, which took place on Wednesday 26 February 2025, showcased and provided the opportunity to discuss the research and analysis that CMIC has delivered. The 2025 UK Criticality Assessment was one of the main topics of the event. The report builds on robust, CMIC-developed methodology and was released at the end of 2024. Thirty-four minerals are classified as critical, providing foundations for future UK policy and investment, as well as for foresight studies highlighting vulnerabilities in the supply chains of minerals critical to the growth of decarbonisation technologies in the UK to 2050.
Dr Karen Hanghøj, BGS Director, opened the conference by providing an overview of current supply risks for critical minerals and the role BGS and its wider minerals research can play.
The supply of minerals is essential to our economy and society and security of supply has never been more important. The work of CMIC and the wider BGS is important in addressing many of the challenges that we currently face. Through our role hosting CMIC, we continue to build on and expand our legacy expertise and provide impartial knowledge, data and research to Government and industry.
Dr Karen Hanghøj, BGS Director.
Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Industry at DBT, then provided a virtual address, acknowledging the substantial increase in the supply of critical minerals required to meet the growing demand.
This second CMIC conference is a great opportunity to reflect on the research released since the first conference in 2023. Both criticality assessments and foresight studies play important roles in understanding supply risk and in advising industry and Government. We understand which minerals are critical and, looking ahead, evaluate to what extent the UK can meet the demand needed for economic growth, decarbonisation and national security.
Dr Gavin Mudd, CMIC Director.
Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Industry at DBT, providing a virtual address at the CMIC conference. BGS © UKRI.
The agenda for the second CMIC conference. BGS © UKRI.
Panel discussion at the CMIC conference about the UK critical minerals strategy and policy. BGS © UKRI.
(Left to right) Dr Pierre Josso, deputy director at CMIC, and Dr Gavin Mudd, CMIC Director, talking at the CMIC conference. BGS © UKRI.
The conference attendees watching as the panel discussion for the future of CMIC is introduced. BGS © UKRI.
Dr Pierre Josso, deputy director at CMIC, presented key findings from the UK 2024 criticality assessment. Dr Evi Petavratzi, senior mineral commodity expert at BGS, looked ahead to the UK’s future as she spoke about the outcomes of the CMIC foresight studies. The foresight studies estimate which materials will be required by decarbonisation technologies to meet the UK’s net zero goals and highlight the challenges faced in meeting demand. An expert panel discussion around foresight studies capped the morning agenda.
In the afternoon there were two expert panels: the first discussed the UK critical minerals strategy and policy, whilst the second discussed the future of CMIC. Simon Thompson, BGS Board member, then brought the conference to a close, reinforcing the great value that CMIC’s research work brings to the UK Government and policymaking around critical minerals.
The UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC) supports the UK in securing adequate, timely and sustainable supplies of the minerals and metals it requires to transition its economy in the coming decades to net zero emissions.
Led by BGS with support from the Department for Business & Trade (DBT), we work together with universities and private and public sector partners to gather and analyse intelligence on the supply and demand of critical minerals, their global value chains and use by UK industry. Our aim is to guide decision making by Government and industry to mitigate risks to supply security, helping to deliver economic prosperity and create opportunities for UK businesses in critical mineral supply chains, domestically and internationally.
The Department for Business & Trade (DBT) unifies what was the Department for International Trade and the business-facing parts of what was the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
It brings sector, market and regulation experts together with world-class trade negotiators and business-support teams across the UK and overseas. This is to make the UK the best place to start and grow a company, helping create the business growth that contributes to better jobs and higher wages and living standards.
Relative topics
Related news
BGS scientists work with United Nations to update hazard profiles
21/08/2025
From tsunamis to sinkholes, the profiles provide a standardised, internationally agreed definition of hazards to support disaster risk management worldwide.
Scientists uncover secrets of Stonehenge’s mysterious cattle
20/08/2025
Cutting-edge analysis of a Neolithic cow tooth dating back to the construction of the famous landmark provides evidence of Welsh origins.
New study reveals geological facility’s value to UK economy
19/08/2025
For the first time, an economic valuation report has brought into focus the scale of the National Geological Repository’s impact on major infrastructure projects.
Is your region susceptible? Britain’s geohazard hotspots revealed
14/08/2025
From sinkholes to radon: new maps highlight the most geologically at-risk regions
New platform highlights geothermal potential across the UK
11/08/2025
A new government-funded geothermal initiative, which includes an interactive map, has launched to help decision makers assess the geothermal potential across the UK.
Oasis revealed as Scottish capital’s ‘most seismic’ concert
07/08/2025
Twenty years of evidence from earthquake monitoring proves the Britpop legends are the most ‘ground shaking’ musical act to perform at Murrayfield Stadium, with the chance to secure their position at the top of the charts this weekend.
IODP³-NSF Expedition 501: successful offshore operations launches onshore phase
06/08/2025
Scientists have managed to take water and sediment samples from beneath the ocean on the New England Shelf for the first time, with the intention of understanding this offshore aquifer system.
New tool helps identify coal mine gas risk for housing developments in Scotland
05/08/2025
Scientists have co-developed a new tool for North Lanarkshire Council to help screen coal mine gas emissions prior to the development of new houses and buildings.
Kamchatka earthquake highlights the advances in tsunami early warning systems
31/07/2025
The response to the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Russia has emphasised how far scientific understanding of tsunamis has come over the last two decades, and the improved mitigation measures that are now in place.
New journal article reveals snapshot of forever chemicals in shallow English soils
31/07/2025
Data on the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in English soils has been released.
Zambia’s first critical minerals guide supports the country’s potential in global clean energy transition
18/07/2025
A new guide to Zambia’s critical minerals highlights the country’s current and potential critical mineral resources, including cobalt and lithium.
Funding awarded to UK/Canadian critical mineral research projects
08/07/2025
BGS is part of a groundbreaking science partnership aiming to improve critical minerals mining and supply chains.