Part 5/7:
A comparative review of critical materials lists from the EU, the United States, and China reveals considerable overlaps. China dominates the market, boasting near-monopolies in the processing and refining of essential materials like natural graphite, cobalt, lithium, and copper.
The EU's Current Strategies
The European Union's plan to address these challenges envisions a shift where 10% of raw materials would come from local mines, 40% from EU processors, and 25% from recycled sources by 2050. However, this ambitious plan comes with its own set of hurdles, primarily the lengthy permitting process for mining operations, which now stands at a maximum of two years—far from optimal in the rapidly evolving global context.