No be small wahala wey dey ground for Europe o! Auditor don drop report wey show say EU no go fit meet their 2030 renewable energy targets if dem no put more effort for mining, refining, and recycling of metals, especially the rare earths wey dem need for smartphones, wind turbines, and even military jets. Make I yan you, this report wey come from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) for Luxembourg, no clear say dem targets dey far from reality because dem no dey make enough progress for domestic production.
As ECA member, Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, yarn am, it dey vital make EU up dem game quick-quick to reduce their dependence on other countries. As e be now, EU dey rely plenty on China and other countries for critical minerals wey dem need, and if dem no act fast, wahala go dey!
The report talk say mining and exploration of these minerals for EU dey underdeveloped. Even if dem find new deposits, e fit take like 20 years before dem fit start production. Abeg, wetin make person think say dem fit meet 2030 deadline like this? Na serious matter be dis! This not so good news dey come as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer don agree make dem work together with Japan on critical minerals, talk already happen for Tokyo.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio don gather plenty countries together to plan how to diversify mineral supplies. Dem dey talk about lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements wey be key materials for clean energy technologies. This summit suppose help rebuild transatlantic relationships wey Donald Trump don scatter samba last year.
As e be now, EU dey depend on China for 7 out of the 26 minerals wey dem study. For example, china supply 97% of dem magnesium wey dem dey use for hydrogen production, 71% gallium wey dem dey use for smartphones, and 31% tungsten. Na serious dependency be this! Even for rare earths, China dey control between 69% to 74% of important minerals wey EU dey use.
Brussels don talk say by 2024, 17,000 tonnes of the 20,000 tonnes of permanent magnets wey EU industry dey use, na from China e come. Hmm! If no be say EU get their own local production, how dem wan run their energy transition? This na wah for the strategic projects wey go need these critical raw materials as everything dey point to say dem fit struggle to secure supply by 2030.
Not only that, dem don realize say recycling dey behind. Only 16 critical raw materials dey recycled for EU, and out of the 26 critical minerals, 10 be fully imported. The matter don reach up to the EU industry commissioner, Stéphane Séjourné, wey talk say Europe dey “doomed to be playground for competitors” unless dem take better step.
ECA also don hammer on how dem plans wey dey for recycling no dey encourage people to recycle individual materials. E fit shock you to know say, 10 of the critical materials wey dem need for energy transition no dey recycled at all! No wonder Keit Pentus-Rosimannus talk say EU need make dem up dem game to ensure strategic projects dey provide supply for EU industry, not for competitors. So my people, this matter no be play matter. Na serious investment and planning go fit help EU to break free from this dependence!
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
