european commodities are depleting

Article Pictures (1) Brussels. Anyone who produces, requires commodities. This applies to the industry in the EU as elsewhere. But compared to many other regions of the world, the EU countries only few resources to promote themselves

Explore the buildings of closed buildings and dig through landfills, the Europeans grabbed the gold fever. The investigation is actually for precious metals and rare commodities. Reason: Since China has announced to reduce the export quotas for commodities continues, could lead to a dangerous bottleneck. For high-tech products like cell phones and solar panels can not be without the minerals produced. The EU Commission is therefore on high alert. A common approach is to solve the supply problem. But internal disputes, have been prevented.

Whether cobalt for the production of batteries or germanium for the production of fiberglass cables: Already this spring, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht warned of a shortage of raw materials. From a total of 41 substances examined, the Belgian attested at 14, a critical supply situation. This addition to the so-called rare earths for LEDs include gallium, indium for screen production and platinum for fuel cells.



For most of the substances, the EU relies on imports from China, Russia, the Congo and Brazil. This is also true for the high-tech location Germany, the mitmischte in the further processing of mineral resources at the front. Announced that Beijing is now the main supplier for re-export restrictions Rare Earth prepares the company cares.

"If we do nothing against the politically induced shortages in key raw materials will break, our value chains," warned Hans-Peter Keitel, Chairman of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). The Federal Government and the EU Commission would have the interest of the viability of the company find a solution, "says Keith.

But that is easier said than done. For EU Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani brings his paper to a joint EU strategy forward commodity not. In fact, he had already so this month will go to the public. But within the Commission there is dispute about the strategy content. Especially Tajani proposal, the industry with loans and guarantees to support the procurement of commodities, has met with reluctance. Other commissioners as De Gucht, meanwhile pushing on to grant the company more responsibility.

There are also conflicts with the theme of recycling and resource efficiency. Both want to Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik prominent anchor in the strategy. The Slovene fighting also for the Conservation of Nature Reserves. Their status will turn to sacrifice if necessary, the Trade Commissioner of the raw material degradation.

Because of the discrepancies are expected in Brussels with a publication of the strategy until the new year. One thing is however, already now: Do see the Member States less dependent on imports, they must be more inventive in the search for mineral resources.

Figures of the EU Commission show that the valuable resources put into our everyday objects: How to land 15 percent of global cobalt production, 13 percent of the palladium and 3 percent of annual gold and silver mining in mobile phones and computers.

The search for raw materials, therefore, begins at the landfill. A pilot project is already there: in rice churches in Hesse drill researchers at the University of Giessen in old waste mountains. Where natural resources in the value of 65 to EUR 120 million are suspected. But the value of the hidden metals should be up to EUR 30 million.