The race for Britain’s EVs is poisoning water supplies – 6,000 miles away

Demand for electric vehicles and renewables is driving a massive expansion of mining in Latin America, threatening communities, water supply and biodiversity.

The UK’s demand for copper is expected to almost double by 2035, while demand for lithium will increase by 1,100 per cent, according to a new strategy published by the UK Government.

Communities based in Peru and Chile told *The i Paper* mining for these minerals is destroying the environment and impacting their health.

The demand is largely driven by the manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs) and green tech, such as solar panels and wind turbines.

However, campaigners in Latin America and the UK raised concerns that mining was being “greenwashed” as the British Government is refusing to disclose how much of these “critical minerals” are being used by the defence industry.

# UK demand for critical minerals soars

The UK Government has published a new Critical Minerals Strategy outlining the resources the country will need over the next decade to supply the country’s “growth” sectors, including clean energy, technology and defence.

A list of 23 “growth” minerals has been published, demand for which is expected to increase dramatically over the next 10 years.

This includes copper, annual demand for which is expected to double by 2035, with the UK predicted to consume 3.6 million tonnes over the next decade. 

More than half (57 per cent) will be consumed by the clean energy sector and nine per cent will be used by EVs, according to the Government. Almost a quarter (24 per cent) will be used by “other advanced manufacturing,” a category that includes defence.