Raw materials strategy of the Federal Government: Securing a sustainable supply of non-energy mineral raw materials for Germany – Policies - IEA (2024)

  • Country Germany
  • Year 2019
  • Status In force
  • Jurisdiction National
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The raw materials strategy is a framework policy first put in place in 2010 and last updated in 2019. The strategy aims to ensure long-term security of supply for raw materials needed by industrial purposes in Germany, as well as to ensure a level playing field with socially and environmentally fair supply chains, and thus to strengthen value creation in industry. The strategy is aligned with European policies and initiatives on raw materials and related topics, such as the European Commission's critical raw materials assessments and the European Commission's plan for the implementation of a circular economy in the EU.
The initial strategy was based on the premise that companies are responsible for ensuring the supply of the raw materials they need and that the government would provide institutional support for their measures. The 2019 update of the strategy focuses on changes in demand, trade conflicts, the concentration of market power, high standards for social and environmental practices in supply chains and guarantees that human rights are respected, with appropriate due diligence systems.

Seventeen measures are listed to help companies ensure secure, responsible and sustainable supplies of raw materials, thus strengthening the competitiveness of the German industry and keeping the consumption of primary raw materials to a minimum by enhancing efficiency, including more reuse and recycling. These measures are grouped in four sections: raw material sources; material and resource efficiency; sustainability and transparency and international cooperation. Several measures are relevant to critical minerals supply, including the ones listed below.

Measure 3 indicates the German government will support initiatives from the European Commission to increase the primary extraction of metals needed for e-mobility and the energy transition, such as copper, lithium and nickel, in EU member states. It will also consider how to provide companies with financial support for feasibility studies that assess better environmental- and climate-practices in raw material supply.

Measure 9 references a financial mechanism to protect lenders providing loans for raw material supply projects subject to economic or political default risks. Projects must be approved, with pertaining requirements related to the establishment of long-term purchase agreements to secure the supply of raw materials and maintenance of high environmental and social standards.

Measure 10 refers to an expansion of the scope of the monitoring undertaken by the German Mineral Resources Agency. In addition to ongoing market assessment of raw materials needed for key industries and emerging businesses, this monitoring shall consider secondary materials and products with higher added value.

Measure 11 points to the development of further requirements and measures to ensure a sustainable and climate-aligned supply of materials, with particular note to those required for the energy transition. This includes support for the development of the World Bank’s Climate Smart Mining initiative.

Measure 12 states that Germany will promote research and development in the fields of processing and metallurgy in order to optimise complex recycling processes and thus improve the economics of related projects. This applies in particular to raw materials required by emerging technologies, such as rare earths, indium, gallium, germanium and lithium.

Measure 13 aims to strengthen the supply of minerals and metals through the use of secondary raw materials. This includes measures to improve reverse logistics, contribute to a circular economy and increase recycling rates.

Measure 15 indicates the Ministry of Environment will initiate an international process to develop an international guide for environmental due diligence in raw material supply chains. This will be analogue to the existing OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains, which provides recommendations to help companies respect human rights and avoid contributing to conflict, as there is currently no OECD guide on environmental due diligence.

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Raw materials strategy of the Federal Government: Securing a sustainable supply of non-energy mineral raw materials for Germany  – Policies - IEA (2024)

FAQs

Raw materials strategy of the Federal Government: Securing a sustainable supply of non-energy mineral raw materials for Germany – Policies - IEA? ›

The Raw Material Strategy seeks to secure a sustainable supply of non-energy mineral raw materials for Germany and sets out a set of measures to achieve this goal. To this end, the Strategy also incorporates climate considerations.

What is the raw materials strategy in Germany? ›

The strategy aims to ensure long-term security of supply for raw materials needed by industrial purposes in Germany, as well as to ensure a level playing field with socially and environmentally fair supply chains, and thus to strengthen value creation in industry.

What is Germany's critical mineral strategy? ›

Germany's critical mineral strategy

Germany's plan to diversity and secure its critical mineral supply involves four main strategies: mining development domestically and across the European Union (EU) trade partnerships and development with international critical mineral exporters and miners.

What is the revised German raw materials strategy in the light of global political and market developments? ›

The revised strategy acknowledges that the raw material markets have increasingly become subject to state intervention and political measures as “[s]tate-controlled raw materials policy with active support in the area of securing raw materials eliminates international competition” (BMWi, 2020, p.

What are Germany's top 5 natural resources? ›

In 2019, Germany was the leading producer of kaolin in the world, having produced 11.7%1 of the world's output; the 2d-ranked producer of peat (13.2%) and fused aluminum oxides (6.2%); the 3d-ranked producer of refined selenium (excluding the United States, 10.4%); the 4th-ranked producer of salt (5.1%); the 5th-ranked ...

What is the industry 4.0 strategy in Germany? ›

The government launched a program called "Industrie 4.0" in 2013, which aimed to promote the digitalization of manufacturing processes and the integration of new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Big Data.

What is the EU strategy on critical raw materials? ›

In addition, the act aims to strengthen all stages of the European critical raw materials value chain by diversifying EU imports to reduce strategic dependencies and improving the EU's capacity to monitor and mitigate risks of disruptions to the supply of critical raw materials (CRMs).

What is the US critical minerals strategy? ›

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) critical minerals & materials strategy is based on the following pillars: Diversifying supplies of critical minerals and materials. Developing alternatives to critical minerals and materials. Improving materials and manufacturing efficiency.

Which country has the biggest supply of critical minerals? ›

China is the largest producer of many of the world's critical minerals.

What is the Swedish mineral strategy? ›

The National Mineral Strategy aims to increase competitiveness of the Swedish mining and mineral industry and ensure that mineral resources are used in a long-term sustainable way, taking into account ecological, social and cultural dimensions.

What is the German strategy? ›

"Blitzkrieg," a German word meaning “Lightning War,” was Germany's strategy to avoid a long war in the first phase of World War II in Europe. Germany's strategy was to defeat its opponents in a series of short campaigns.

What is Germany's renewable energy strategy? ›

Energy system of Germany

Germany's Climate Law sets out the framework for reaching net zero emissions by 2045. In order to achieve the ambitious Energiewende by 2030, 80% of all electricity supply will need to come from renewable energy sources (and 100% by 2035) and coal is to be completely phased out.

What is Germany's power strategy? ›

The primary goal of Germany's new power plant strategy is to ensure uninterrupted energy availability, particularly during periods of low solar and wind energy production. By leveraging gas power plants' rapid response capabilities, the strategy aims to balance energy supply and demand, providing stability to the grid.

What are the raw materials of Germany? ›

It is a major producer of bituminous coal and brown coal (lignite), the principal fields of the latter being west of Cologne, east of Halle, south and southwest of Leipzig, and in Lower Lusatia in Brandenburg. Other minerals found in abundance are salt and potash, mined at the periphery of the Harz mountains.

What is Germany's largest renewable energy source? ›

Germany had the world's largest photovoltaic installed capacity until 2014, and as of 2023 it has over 82 GW. It is also the world's third country by installed total wind power capacity, 64 GW in 2021 (59 GW in 2018) and second for offshore wind, with over 7 GW.

What is the mineral industry in Germany? ›

Mining Industry of Germany

The country has one of the largest mining sectors in Europe, with diverse mineral resources. The most prominent of them include Lignite, Selenium, and Feldspar – Germany has the highest global reserves of these three. The list of resources continues with Kaolin, Salt, Coal, and Gypsum.

What is Germany technology strategy? ›

We advocate for a global, open, free and secure Internet. We enhance value-based technology partnerships. We promote human-centric and innovation- friendly rules for the digital space.

What is Germany's energy strategy? ›

Energy system of Germany

Germany's Climate Law sets out the framework for reaching net zero emissions by 2045. In order to achieve the ambitious Energiewende by 2030, 80% of all electricity supply will need to come from renewable energy sources (and 100% by 2035) and coal is to be completely phased out.

What is the European raw material Initiative? ›

The European Raw Materials Initiative is a strategic plan designed to tackle the issue of raw materials access in the European Union. The initiative covers all raw materials used by European industry except materials from agricultural production and materials used as fuel.

What is the raw material buying strategy? ›

Raw material procurement process involves researching, selecting, ordering, and paying for raw materials required for a business. Identifying and selecting vendors, negotiating prices and terms, and awarding contracts are some steps in the procurement process.

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