Delivering authoritative, impartial and independent up-to-date data, information and analysis on critical minerals that are essential to the UK economy.
The UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC) supports the UK in securing adequate, timely and sustainable supplies of critical minerals. This ensures the UK can transition its economy in the coming decades to meet challenges such as net-zero emissions, circular economy and a modern industrial strategy.
The UK is leading the way in its decarbonisation efforts, having closed down coal-fired power and transitioning the grid with more renewables (especially wind) and strong progress in electric vehicles. The continued evolution of UK's industrial strategy will require a strong focus on securing supplies of critical minerals, such as lithium, rare earths, gallium, niobium and tungsten (amongst many others). Almost all critical minerals are currently imported, meaning it is important to understand the often complex global supply chains delivering those minerals. The Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre's mission is to analyse those supply chains and provide impartial and objective advice that helps the UK secure sustainable supplies of critical minerals for its various industries.
Led by the British Geological Survey (BGS) with support from the Department for Business & Trade (DBT), we work together with universities and private and public sector partners to gather and analyse intelligence on the supply and demand of critical minerals, their global value chains and use by UK industry. Our aim is to guide decision-making by government and industry to mitigate risks to supply security, helping to deliver economic prosperity and create opportunities for UK businesses in critical mineral supply chains, domestically and internationally.
News
CMIC makes recommendations for the next UK criticality assessment
CMIC reports methodological improvements to better align the next criticality assessment update with the UK economy, trade and strategic industrial sectors
UK 2024 Criticality Assessment published
The latest assessment is focused on the vulnerability to supply disruption of minerals in an increasingly diversified UK economy.
2024 UK Criticality Assessment launch
In November 2024 we were delighted to publish the latest UK Criticality Assessment and introduce the report through a live webinar.
CMIC showcase 2026
Join scientists from CMIC for an online showcase of major research outputs from the last year, comprising of the copper waste and scrap flows for the UK, future of digital and the methodological progress on criticality assessments. The presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the panel.
CMIC interactive map
The CMIC interactive map displays a range of new and legacy datasets relevant to understanding the potential opportunities for developing critical mineral value chains in the UK. These include geoscience data that supports the national-scale assessment of the geological potential for critical raw materials in the UK; and the locations of selected mineral processing and refining, chemical and metal production, and recycling operations, and associated development activities.
Contact
For questions regarding the project please email the CMIC (enquire@ukcmic.org).
For media enquiries please email the BGS Press Office (bgspress@bgs.ac.uk) or call the BGS Press Office (+44 (0)7790 607 010). This is a call number only, please do not text.