Critical Minerals Building on Federal Efforts to Advance Recovery and Substitution Could Help Address Supply Risks
Abstract
The U.S. is heavily reliant on imports of many minerals, such as cobalt and lithium, which are essential for manufacturing advanced technologies. Supply chains for many of these minerals are also vulnerable to various risks, such as foreign government actions. In 2018, Interior designated 35 minerals and mineral groups whose supply chains are vulnerable to disruption as essential to our nations economic and national security. GAO was asked to review federal efforts to advance critical minerals recovery and substitution. Based on GAOs analysis of the views of six federal agencies and seven nonfederal stakeholders, five cross-cutting challenges constrain efforts to advance critical minerals recovery (i.e., recycling and use of nontraditional sources) and substitution (i.e., developing alternatives) in the U.S. These challenges include limited data and analytical tools to support decision making, limited research and development, limited domestic infrastructure and capacity, potential adverse effects on the environment and worker safety, and limited economic viability of recovery and substitution methods. Federal agencies have taken some steps that may help address these challenges.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1197708
Entities
People
- Alfredo J Gomez
Organizations
- Federal Government of the United States