UK needs proper strategy to safeguard minerals supply

THE UK must adopt a long-term strategic approach to safeguard its supply of vital mineral resources. This was the message from the President of the CBI to an audience of quarry industry leaders and government officials last month.

Speaking at the ‘Living With Minerals 2’ conference on 6 November, CBI President Sir John Sunderland said that while strategic planning to tackle energy insecurity and climate change was at the top of the political agenda, similar importance had not been placed on developing a sustainable minerals policy.

‘The minerals industry is essential to our everyday lives and to our economic success and deserves a proper, strategic focus from government to ensure it stays that way. However, in stark contrast to energy and climate change, a strategic coherent framework on minerals is lacking and there is no co-ordinated voice or champion from government,’ he said.

To address these issues, the Government’s long-awaited new minerals planning statement (MPS1), which updates previous mineral planning guidance and provides an overarching planning document for all minerals in the UK, was launched at the conference.

Welcoming the release of MPS1 and the document’s recognition of the essential contribution minerals make to the UK economy, Nigel Jackson, chairman of the CBI Minerals Group, said: ‘Provided the new guidance is implemented as intended the economy can continue to receive an adequate and steady supply of minerals for the next 10 years, although the longer-term will still need to be addressed.’

After the conference planning minister Baroness Andrews launched the CBI-led ‘UK National Minerals Forum’, which will draw together all the main stakeholders necessary to advise government on the prudent use of UK mineral resources, and undertake a strategic review of the country’s mineral resources and how they may be sustainably developed to meet the long-term needs of the UK. The forum will also act as a focal point for finding solutions to issues which might disrupt access to and security of supply of minerals.