Defence: Raw Materials

The Department is addressing dependencies on concentrated sources of Critical Minerals likely to be affecting the defence sector by improving visibility and enhancing collaboration with industry and like-minded Allies (including NATO and Australia). Efforts focus on developing alternative sources of supply, investing in allied capacity, ensuring security of supply and promoting recycling and substitution to reduce reliance on single suppliers and high‑risk geographies.

MOD is also playing an active role in implementing Vision 2035: UK Critical Mineral Strategy through this work, and on 10 June, signed a new Joint Statement of Intent with Australia on collaboration to secure critical minerals supply chains for Defence.

Furthermore, the UK Government is investing £71 million through the National Wealth Fund to restart Tungsten West’s Hemerdon mine in Devon, securing the ability to negotiate over the next 6 months for a domestic supply of tungsten, a strategically important mineral used in defence and advanced industries.

This recognises that critical minerals are essential to our modern economy and increasingly our national security, with initial exchanges identifying opportunities for closer collaboration on shared critical mineral supply risks.