Half the world’s copper mining is controlled by just three countries, and China alone refines 40% of the metal central to the green energy transition away from fossil fuels.
To power up e-car batteries and for energy storage alone, the EU estimates it will need up to 18 times more lithium by 2030 and up to 60 times more by 2050.
Country is considering longer-term measures to grab a bigger slice of mining companies’ profits once a temporary export tax finishes at the end of this year.