Europa se prepara para la guerra con China: España en la vanguardia
It seems that the competition in the automotive industry is not the only well-known rivalry, as Europe is now gearing up to compete with China, but this time not for cars, but for valuable natural resources that everyone wants to have.
The Most Valuable Resources
Since time immemorial, humans have sought to obtain resources from nature, and as time passes, the demand for these resources only grows, as they are essential for almost any technological development.
While there are many processes in place today for extracting resources, there are still some that remain very difficult to obtain, one of the most famous being rare earth elements. These elements are a set of at least 17 chemical elements that are not found in pure form in nature.
Therefore, to obtain these resources, complex and costly processes are required, and all countries are eager to secure them, especially European countries looking to reduce their reliance on China.
At present, China has the highest reserves of rare earth elements in the world and is also the leading exporter. This gives China leverage over these valuable resources for European countries, but the European Union (EU) is now stepping up to face this new challenge.
Europe Aims to Break Free from China
The European Union is working on various projects to reduce its dependence on powers like China for raw materials needed for ecological transition, digitalization, or defense, such as lithium, nickel, and titanium.
According to the new Fundamental Law of Raw Materials, the EU aims to meet 10% of its annual raw material needs through extraction, 40% through transformation, and 25% through recycling.
"Our goal is to have reserves that can cover at least the needs of the European industry for a period of one year," stated Stéphane Séjourné, Vice President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy.
Spain Takes the Lead
While there are no specifics on the number of projects or countries involved, Spain stands out as one of the countries with the greatest diversity of minerals and rare earth elements, according to data from the European Commission.
However, mining projects in Spain are met with controversy, mainly due to opposition from local communities and environmental groups. For instance, the company Cuántico attempted to extract rare earth elements in Montiel, Ciudad Real, but faced environmental permit issues.
On another front, Extremadura New Energies holds part of the vast lithium reserves, but faces challenges in opening a lithium mine in Valdefloz, Cáceres province, due to resistance from environmental groups.
This does not mean giving up, but rather a reminder of the challenges to address and the importance of balancing resource extraction, environmental concerns, and community interests.
Therefore, it is crucial for the European Union to take necessary steps in each project to minimize environmental impact and avoid harming communities living near these areas.
The War is Just Beginning
With these established goals, Europe has made it clear that it no longer wants to depend on China, which could serve as a significant blow to the Asian giant. On one hand, China would lose a customer in terms of exports, but on the other, it would gain a competitor.
If several European countries start working diligently towards these objectives, they may begin to produce more resources and potentially become competitors to China in this resource war.
We have only scratched the surface of Spain’s plans for this battle. Undoubtedly, this is just the beginning, and we are yet to see what projects lie ahead in the future. We hope that the extraction of these valuable resources is carried out with the responsibility and respect that our planet deserves.
