Materie Prime Critiche in UE. A Che Punto Siamo?

[Autom. eng. transl.] The Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the previous pandemic emergency have highlighted various critical issues in the supply of semi-finished products and raw materials. Critical raw materials (MPC) are materials used for the production of technologically advanced products, essential for the ecological transition and energy independence in a decarbonised economy, mostly supplied by countries potentially heralding instability for geopolitical reasons. Future demand expressed by the EU for MPCs such as cobalt, graphite, nickel, copper and titanium is estimated to grow exponentially in the coming decades. On the other hand, supply may not adequately meet these demands, especially in the EU, where most MPCs are imported. In the first months of 2023, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a regulation for MPCs, setting objectives to reduce European dependence on foreign countries, which appear to be difficult to achieve by 2030. In a somewhat analogous way, Italy too is in late having formally established strategies, which have not yet been launched. Consequently, the proposal to combine the objectives of environmental sustainability with those of energy security appears to be seriously at risk.