The UK Government has published Vision 2035: Critical Minerals Strategy, setting measurable targets and delivery measures to reduce import dependence and support growth sectors under the Industrial Strategy. The policy was released on 22 November 2025 alongside an official press notice from 10 Downing Street and the Department for Business and Trade.
The strategy defines three headline ambitions for 2035: at least 10% of annual UK demand for critical minerals to be met through domestic production, 20% through recycling, and no more than 60% of aggregate UK demand to come from any single country. It also targets domestic output of at least 50,000 tonnes of lithium (lithium carbonate equivalent).
Ministers frame the move as economic security policy as well as industrial policy. Government material highlights concentrated supply chains and rising UK demand, with copper needs projected to almost double and lithium demand to rise by 1,100% by 2035; officials also cite China’s dominance of rare earths mining and refining.
Delivery rests on a mix of public finance and market support. Following the 2025 Spending Review, DBT will provide up to £50 million for UK projects, complemented by the National Wealth Fund, UK Export Finance and other public finance institutions. The National Wealth Fund reports £27.8 billion financial capacity and recent transactions including £24 million in Cornish Lithium (2023), £28.6 million in Cornish Metals (2025) and a further £31 million commitment to Cornish Lithium in 2025.
Industrial energy cost relief is a second pillar. Government will consult on eligibility for the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme and indicates the scheme will reduce electricity costs by up to £40/MWh from 2027. Separately, the Department for Business and Trade has confirmed an uplift of the Network Charging Compensation Scheme for energy‑intensive industries from 60% to 90% with effect from 1 April 2026.
Permitting is to be accelerated for innovative extraction, processing and recycling projects via the Environment Agency’s priority tracked service, with early‑stage projects able to use the tracked route for complex cases. The intent is to shorten decision timelines while maintaining regulatory standards.
On workforce, DBT will work with Skills England and the Department for Work and Pensions, including through Jobcentres and the new Jobs and Careers Service, to ensure the skills pipeline for mining, processing and recycling aligns with projected demand across growth sectors.
Officials point to existing industrial capabilities: lithium resources in Cornwall, one of the world’s major tungsten sources, the Clydach nickel refinery in Swansea, and what government describes as the only Western source of rare‑earth alloys for permanent magnets. University of Birmingham and Hypromag report new rare‑earth magnet manufacturing from recycled feedstocks, adding midstream capacity.
Resilience measures for defence supply chains are part of the plan. Government will consider industry‑led stockpiling-potentially through procurement routes-aligned with the Defence Industrial Strategy 2025 sector plan. In parallel, the UK has joined a NATO High Visibility Project for joint acquisition, storage, transport and management of stockpiles of defence‑critical raw materials.
To improve market transparency, DBT will explore a demand aggregation platform mapping UK industrial requirements across downstream sectors. The aim is to inform where government engagement and finance can best de‑risk investment to secure supply.
Regionally, the strategy highlights opportunities across the North East of England-County Durham and Teesside-and the South West, including Devon and Cornwall, with devolved nations also referenced for strengths in nickel, titanium and magnet recycling.
For companies in batteries, permanent magnets, aerospace alloys and advanced manufacturing, the policy mix signals three practical changes: clearer eligibility routes to public finance, lower electricity input costs over the medium term, and faster permitting for complex projects. Government notes more than 50 UK projects already in train and estimates the sector contributes £1.79 billion GVA and directly supports over 50,000 jobs, from extraction through midstream processing to recycling.
Baseline indicators underline the scale of the task: government states the UK currently produces around 6% of its critical mineral needs domestically. Progress against the 2035 targets-10% domestic supply, 20% recycling and a 60% single‑country import cap-will depend on the pace of project financing, grid‑cost reforms and the build‑out of midstream processing.