The EU risks failing to secure the critical raw materials needed for its renewable energy transition by 2030, as import diversification, recycling and domestic production efforts remain insufficient, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) warned in a new report released on Monday.
The EU relies "heavily" on a small number of non-EU countries, including China, Türkiye, and Chile, for materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements used in batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels.
"Without critical raw materials, there will be no energy transition, no competitiveness, and no strategic autonomy. Unfortunately, we are now dangerously dependent on a handful of countries outside the EU for the supply of these materials," Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, the ECA member responsible for the audit, said.
"It is therefore vital for the EU to up its game and reduce its vulnerability in this area," Pentus-Rosimannus added.
The report said the EU's 2024 Critical Raw Materials Act sets non-binding 2030 targets that apply only to a limited number of materials, making supply security by the end of the decade unlikely.
Efforts to diversify imports have delivered limited results, despite 14 strategic partnerships signed in recent years, while recycling rates remain extremely low.
Ten of the 26 materials needed for the energy transition are not recycled at all, the auditors said.
Domestic extraction and processing also face major hurdles, with long permitting timelines and high energy costs undermining competitiveness.
The auditors stressed that access to critical raw materials is essential for the EU to meet its climate targets, including cutting emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and reaching climate neutrality by 2050.
By Melike Pala in Brussels
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
