UK Warns of Dangerous Dependence on China for Critical Minerals Needed for AI

2026, November 5

United Kingdom / China

A British parliamentary investigation has warned that the United Kingdom remains dangerously dependent on China for critical minerals essential to artificial intelligence infrastructure, military equipment and renewable energy technologies. The report by the UK Parliament Business and Trade Committee highlights China's dominance in refining several important minerals, including lithium and rare-earth elements, leaving British industries vulnerable to potential export restrictions and supply disruptions.

The committee has called for a dedicated Critical Minerals Finance Facility to support domestic mining, processing and recycling, alongside closer cooperation with international partners to diversify supply chains. It also warned that lithium demand could increase 45-fold by 2030. The findings underline how access to raw materials is becoming a major strategic issue in the global competition for technological leadership, particularly in artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and defence.