El accelerated growth of sectors such as electric mobility, technology and renewable energy has multiplied the relevance of the critical metals in the global economy. Elements such as lithium, cobalt, molybdenum, and rare earths are now subject to intense international competition, triggering new policies and conflicts over their location and control.
In recent years, several countries and regions have promoted Strategies to ensure autonomy in obtaining these essential materials. But at the same time, the Extraction and refining of critical metals is generating intense debates about their environmental, social and political impact, highlighting the complexity of this new energy and technological landscape.
Europe and the United States redefine their mining map
The European Union has intensified its efforts to reduce its external dependence on critical metals, particularly in the face of Chinese dominance in the sector. The EU, which consumes large quantities of molybdenum but produces little of this metal, has opted to exploit strategic deposits in its vicinity. A clear example is the ambitious project in Greenland, where mining has been authorized in the Piiaaffik area. This development, driven by Denmark with European support, could supply up to 25% of the annual demand for molybdenum of the EU and fully cover defense needs.
Mining alternatives and technological innovation in the United States
Beyond Greenland, countries like Italy They have decided to relaunch their mining programs, reopening deposits and authorizing hundreds of operations to search for lithium, rare earths, and other key elements. This bet seeks to attract international investment and strengthen the sovereignty over raw materials, especially in historic mining regions such as the Alps, Sardinia or Lombardy.
En United States, concerns about the concentration of cobalt and nickel refining in Asia have led startups like Nth Cycle to develop cleaner, more local technologies, such as electrowinningThanks to this method, some industrial and electronic waste can be transformed into sources of new metals, facilitating a circular economy and reducing the need for imports.
High social and environmental costs of extraction
However, The expansion of critical metal mining is not without costsSome areas of the planet experience a true paradox: although they accumulate underground mineral wealth, their populations face extreme poverty and violence. This is especially true in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the global epicenter of coltan and cobalt extraction, but also the scene of decades of armed conflict and mass displacement. Several studies have highlighted how part of this global trade, driven by pressure from technology and the green transition, ends up indirectly financing armed groups and exacerbating humanitarian crises.
El control of the so-called blood minerals It's generating international tensions, and recent reports have questioned the European Union's responsibility in the supply chain, detecting coltan imports from militia-controlled areas. This situation raises questions about the sustainability of the green economy when it depends on finite resources and such politically and socially unstable environments.
In other enclaves, such as the Guadalquivir River basin in Andalusia or the city of Baotou in China, the mining development linked to critical metals must face the environmental challenge. The reopening of historic mines generates controversy, with reports warning of heavy metal spills and their long-term effects on the ecosystem and public health. Experience in Chinese regions such as Baotou, the epicenter of the rare earth industry, demonstrates that economic growth achieved through mining can have serious consequences in terms of pollution and disease, highlighting the limits of poorly regulated extractive models.
New scenarios in the geopolitical race and the seabed
Global pressure to access critical metals This has led some governments to explore extreme alternatives, such as deep-sea mining. Recently, the US administration has pushed through regulations to allow the exploitation of ocean-bed resources, bypassing UN multilateral agreements. This move has generated great concern among international organizations, which warn of the environmental risks and legal and international governance challenges that a race to the deep sea would pose.
Infrastructure companies and multinational consortiums are already exploring technology to extract polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor, while others are calling for a global moratorium until the real impact on little-known ecosystems is better understood. At the same time, the United Nations and countries such as Switzerland, France, and Portugal have called for prioritizing recycling and the circular economy as an alternative to further extractions, to avoid irreversible damage to the environment.
In the coming years, the regulation and sustainable management of critical metals are likely to play a fundamental role in the energy and technological transition. Decision-making in this area will influence social justice, environmental protection, and political balance, and will be key to the future of industry and international relations in an increasingly interconnected and demanding world.