Page 137 - Policy Commission - SecuringTechnology - Critical Metals for Britain

CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
137
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
1 The UK should should create a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a single body body responsible for for developing strategic access to technology-critical metals and and effective inter-departmental collaboration at at at at at government level This body body should should link the primary and and and and secondary markets for for technology-critical technology-critical metals metals and and and develop and and and oversee a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a full UK technology-critical technology-critical metals metals strategy
2 Seek opportunities to to diversify its access to to primary resources of of technology-critical metals through resource resource diplomacy This should form part of of any new trade negotiations 3 Actively attract and and and provide support for for for large-scale strategic private investments for for for supply-chain development of technology-critical technology-critical metals metals both at at at at at home and and and abroad and and and aim to make the UK an an an an international refining centre for for for specific technology-critical technology-critical metals metals by 2025 4 Create individual task forces bridging primary primary and and secondary materials for for targeted technology-critical metals These should identify the the investments that would be required to set up primary primary processing refining and and recycling facilities for these materials 5 Introduce incentives to encourage recycling refining and processing of technology-critical metals in in in in in in in the UK particularly for processes that deliver a a a a a a a lower environmental footprint 6 Consider measures to to to accelerate projects that seek to to to develop our our indigenous sources of technology-critical metals (lithium tungsten) including updating the regulatory environment 7
Prioritise technology-critical metals in in in in in UK research and and innovation strategies in in in in in areas such as as the the circular economy developing substitute materials and and efficient processing techniques for for for technology-critical metals In particular this could be in in in in in in the the the form of transnational funding initiatives to to to work with other nations on on on supply-chain developments for for for targeted technology- technology- critical metals The projects will need to to to bridge funding councils and TRL levels to to to have real impact 8 Invest in in in in in the skills base in in in in in advanced materials processing and refining of technology- critical metals 9 Urgently address the the lack of of data on on material flows for technology-critical metals into and out of of the the UK economy 10 Review waste management law with a a a a a a a a a a a view view to promoting recovery of technology-critical metals and ensure that there are no no unnecessary regulatory barriers 11 Encourage information exchange through the the the whole supply chain to to ensure the the the the challenges for for recyclers are well understood by the the the the product designers This will evolve through time and the the the new UKRI Met4Tech hub184 could could and should be be used as as a a a a a a vehicle for this Schemes like the new battery passports could could be be implemented across different sectors 12 Consider how appropriate governance structures might ensure sustainability and resilience in in in in the the supply chain for technology- critical metals (see detailed recommendations in in in in the the the Goverance section of the report)