Germany digs deeper

Welcome back to the Strawman, the daily climate newsletter that’s like the canary in the coalmine for climate news - we tell you the important stuff.

Today, we’re spending time looking at Germany’s work towards mineral self-sufficiency; something particularly important as we think about the importance of turning supply chains green.

Let’s dive in.

Mines make the world go round

We all know about the issues associated with mining - to name a few: deforestation, habitat destruction, soil erosion. Don’t even get me started on the plight of workers.

Long story short - mining gives us the shiny stuff we need, but there’s a not-so-glamourous side to it too.

Now, Germany's raw materials strategy is getting a facelift to ensure they don't end up in the same pickle as they did with Russia and gas. They're hoping to strike a balance between greener pastures and self-sufficiency, reducing their reliance on China for certain metals. It’s like a tightrope walker juggling a green leaf and a shovel; that's Germany's approach to its raw materials strategy.

Reopening the gates

Like that one time you went up to your dusty attic and found a bunch of stuff worth money, Germany’s about to unlock a whole treasure trove they’ve been hiding in the Black Forest.

The sleeping giant of Käfersteige mine is about to be awakened from its 27-year slumber, as it contains Europe's largest deposit of fluorspar - a crucial component for electric car batteries.

Having closed in 1996 due to a flood of Chinese-produced fluorspar, the mine is set to spring back to life as fluorspar prices soar in response to its use in solar modules and lithium-ion batteries.

Some projections suggest that EU demand for fluorspar concentrate could rise by nearly 50% by the end of the decade. Käfersteige is poised to produce enough fluorspar to meet 40% of Germany's demand and 13% of the EU's - that’s a tonne of potential they’ve had hiding away.

Mining isn’t enough

Some experts warn that focusing solely on extraction isn't the answer. Processing and the rest of the value chain are just as important. It's like baking a cake - you need more than just flour (or fluorspar) to make it taste good.

A great example of this is Germany's high electricity costs, which are a roadblock to large-scale investment in mineral processing.

Some skeptics argue that the hype around Germany's domestic critical materials boom is a bit too optimistic - there’s still a lot to do.

That’s all for today’s newsletter - see ya tomorrow!