Altilium welcomes the publication of the Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee’s new report on critical minerals and its recognition that recycling and domestic processing must play a central role in strengthening UK supply chains and reducing our dependence on overseas suppliers.

The report delivers a timely warning about the strategic threats to the UK’s economic security presented by critical mineral supply chains, particularly our reliance on China for the processing and refining of materials essential to EVs, clean energy technologies and defence.

As the report also notes, the UK has a significant opportunity to address these vulnerabilities by recycling critical minerals already in circulation, in end-of-life EV batteries and other waste streams. Yet too much of this material is currently exported for processing overseas, along with the economic value, skilled jobs and supply chain security it could generate at home.

• 80% of UK metal products classified as waste are exported
• The Advanced Propulsion Centre estimates 28,000 tonnes of battery waste could be recycled in the UK by 2030
• The Government’s target is for 20% of UK critical minerals demand to be met through recycling by 2035

Support for domestic recycling is therefore vital to ensure that this waste is processed locally. By recovering and refining critical minerals already in circulation, the UK can reduce its dependence on imported materials, build greater resilience into strategic supply chains and create a new domestic source of essential raw materials, including lithium, nickel and cobalt.

At Altilium, we are building this capacity today. Through our proprietary EcoCathode™ technology, we are developing the UK’s only fully integrated recycling and refining capability that can recover both cathode and anode materials from spent EV batteries and convert them into battery-grade products.

We particularly welcome the Committee’s recommendations to incentivise domestic recycling, address the high energy costs facing UK processors and improve access to finance for strategically important projects. These measures could help accelerate the commercial deployment of British technologies, attract private investment and establish the industrial capacity needed to compete internationally.

To read the report visit: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5902/cmselect/cmbeis/132/report.html