Consultation on Proposed UK Minerals Strategy

Supplying demand for the next generation – deadline for responses 1 April 2017

OVER recent years the UK mineral extraction industry has been developing a ‘Proposed UK Minerals Strategy’. The thinking behind the strategy has evolved as a result of a series of industry-led ‘Living with Minerals’ conferences, organized by the CBI Minerals Group, supplemented by more recent discussion with the UK Minerals Forum and dialogue at other industry events, such as the MPA/RTPI conference in 2016.

This initiative is important not just for the sectors involved, but for key stakeholders in the planning authorities and regulatory and environmental organizations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as other parties with interests in mineral extraction.

It is an ambitious task and the current version of the strategy is not expected to be perfect, which is why input is being sought to help ensure that it considers all relevant issues to make it credible and of use for all stakeholders. The primary focus is seeking to ensure that the UK’s demand for minerals is supplied for the next generation.

For ease of reference, the following weblinks will take readers to the respective UK Minerals Forum and CBI Minerals Group reports referred to in the strategy (The future of our minerals and The UK Minerals Extraction Industry).

Agg-Net readers with an interest in UK minerals are encouraged to read the proposed strategy (see PDF attachment) and send their responses to Nigel Jackson, chief executive of the Mineral Products Association ([email protected]), and Ken Hobden, secretary of the CBI Minerals Group ([email protected]), by 1 April 2017.