First annual Critical Mineral Intelligence Centre conference takes place

Led by BGS with support from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC) helps the UK to secure adequate, timely and sustainable supplies of the minerals and metals it requires to transition its economy to net zero emissions in the coming decades.

The conference set out the context and objectives of CMIC, the research and analyses it carries out, both in-house and commissioned from other bodies, and its engagement with UK Government and industry.

To open the conference, Nursrat Ghani MP, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), provided a virtual opening address on the importance of critical minerals to the UK, highlighting that the country is committed to securing the supply of critical minerals. BGS Director Dr Karen Hanghøj then addressed the conference to talk about the role of BGS and its wider minerals research.

In hosting CMIC, BGS is able to build on its extensive expertise and knowledge, considerable international experience and ability to work with a broad range of research partners to give impartial advice to both Government and industry on reducing the risk of disruption to our critical mineral supply chains.

Dr Karen Hanghøj, BGS Director.

A number of other speakers also took to the floor at the conference, including Andrew Bloodworth, the interim CMIC Director, who took an in-depth look at the objectives, research, analysis and overview of the second year of the work programme.

At a time when the global economy is moving towards net zero and when geopolitical tensions have grown significantly, the information and insight provided by CMIC on possible risks associated with the UK’s critical mineral supply are important for informing decisions relating to our economic growth and national security.

Andrew Bloodworth, interim CMIC Director.

Dr Pierre Josso, deputy director at CMIC, then spoke about the updated methodology and the timescales for the next criticality assessment. There was also an expert panel discussion on the future direction of CMIC that featured:

• Karen Hanghøj, BGS Director
• Matt Hatfield, head of policy of critical minerals, Department of Business and Trade
• Emma Schofield, platinum group metals research fellow at Johnson Matthey
• Simon Thompson, BGS Board member

The panel discussed:

• future supply and demand for critical minerals
• long lead times for mining projects
• the role of CMIC in helping investors understand risk
• the likely nature of a more circular economy for critical minerals

In addition to providing an opportunity for the delegates to comment and ask questions, the panel also highlighted the future priorities for CMIC, including focusing on UK manufacturing and a thorough analysis of supply chains.

Following the panel, there were closing reflections from Prof Julia Sutcliffe, Chief Scientific Advisor at DBT, who reinforced the Government’s commitment to securing the supply of critical minerals and the role that CMIC‘s strategy has played in getting us where we are today.