A geostrategic role of critical mineral raw materials in the energy transition

At the end of the second decade of the 21st century, humanity is at a turning point: either it will find effective answers to the global challenge of preventing the devastating changes caused by the sources of greenhouse gases emissions, resulting from human activity, or the world, as we know it today, will disappear. In this context, and starting from long-term trends of using the geostrategic resources and mineral raw materials, it is noticeable that the world is going through an inevitable transition - an energy transition, a thorough transformation of the global energy and economic sectors. A demand for certain mineral raw materials, metals and minerals such as cobalt, lithium, magnesium, aluminium is growing fast. Digitalization, industry and energy transition are transforming and increasing the demand for raw materials. In this context, critical mineral raw materials and their circular use are of significant importance in the economy because mineral raw materials form the basis of the economy and are essential for maintaining and improving the quality of life. There is no doubt that it will not be possible to implement the European Green Plan - strategy without the usage of critical raw materials. Namely, less than 5 % of the world's critical resources are extracted in the EU, while EU industry accounts for about 20 % of the world's consumption of these resources, and in this context, strengthening the European supply of critical raw materials is extremely important for the Green Plan and the resilience of the key industry.