Opposition to lithium mines hampers green technology supply chain

Serbia protest

Source: © Marko Djokovic/AFP/Getty Images

Europe and US seek to escape Chinese dominance in critical minerals

Lithium is among a basket of metals viewed as essential to the energy transition. Yet Europe and the US mine and process remarkably few of these resources, relying often on countries such as China for their supply.

The EU and the US have both introduced incentives to encourage greater self-sufficiency, yet there is often staunch resistance to developing new mines.