Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre plans to update the list of critical minerals; and whether it will include hafnium on that list.

Many minerals, such as Hafnium, have important uses but, by necessity of focus, only some are “critical”. These “critical minerals” are not only vitally important: they are also experiencing major risks to their security of supply. These risks can be caused by combinations of factors including, but not limited to, rapid demand growth, high concentration of supply chains in particular countries, or elevated levels of price volatility.

Earlier this year, BEIS commissioned the British Geological Survey to carry out the UK’s first criticality assessment and it defined 18 critical minerals with the highest supply risk and economic importance; it did not identify Hafnium as a critical mineral on this basis.

The Government has not made an assessment of the impact of rising prices of Hafnium on UK superalloy producers. However, we recognise that the UK need on critical minerals and its international markets can change, and therefore the assessment will be reviewed regularly through the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC). The next review will be completed in Spring 2023.

For many minerals, we will continue to rely upon and champion an effective and efficient market. Where the market already provides a responsible and resilient supply, we see no case to interfere. Where the markets are less developed, are less transparent or have issues, we want to work with business and international partners to make markets more resilient for the long term.