![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_277757223.jpg\")
The manufacture of electric vehicles is causing a surge in demand for lithium and copper (Photo: Chris Ratcliffe\/Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\tCommunities in Chile and Peru tell The i Paper that demand for critical minerals is damaging their environment\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n
Demand for electric vehicles and renewables is driving a massive expansion of mining in Latin America, threatening communities, water supply and biodiversity. <\/p>\n
The UK\u2019s demand for copper is expected to almost double by 2035, while demand for lithium will increase by 1,100 per cent, according to a new strategy published by the UK Government. <\/p>\n
Communities based in Peru and Chile told The i Paper mining for these minerals is destroying the environment and impacting their health. <\/p>\n
The demand is largely driven by the manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs) and green tech, such as solar panels and wind turbines. <\/p>\n
However, campaigners in Latin America and the UK raised concerns that mining was being \u201cgreenwashed\u201d as the British Government is refusing to disclose how much of these \u201ccritical minerals\u201d are being used by the defence industry.<\/p>\n
UK demand for critical minerals soars<\/p>\n
The UK Government has published a new Critical Minerals Strategy outlining the resources the country will need over the next decade to supply the country\u2019s \u201cgrowth\u201d sectors, including clean energy, technology and defence.<\/p>\n
A list of 23 \u201cgrowth\u201d minerals has been published, demand for which is expected to increase dramatically over the next 10 years.<\/p>\n
This includes copper, annual demand for which is expected to double by 2035, with the UK predicted to consume 3.6 million tonnes over the next decade.\u00a0<\/p>\n
More than half (57 per cent) will be consumed by the clean energy sector and nine per cent will be used by EVs, according to the Government. Almost a quarter (24 per cent) will be used by \u201cother advanced manufacturing,\u201d a category that includes defence.<\/p>\n
The manufacture of electric vehicles is causing a surge in demand for lithium and copper (Photo: Chris Ratcliffe\/Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, demand for lithium is expected to increase by 1,100 per cent by 2035, with the UK predicted to consume 339,200 tonnes over the next decade<\/p>\n
The vast majority (91 per cent) of this demand will come from EVs.<\/p>\n
The UK is part of a global scramble to secure the critical minerals needed for the clean energy transition.<\/p>\n
While the Government is making efforts to ramp up domestic production of these minerals, for example by the creation of a new lithium mine in Cornwall, the vast majority will be imported from other countries.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s causing great pressure on the Global South\u2019<\/p>\n
The expansion of mining activities is sounding alarm bells among communities in Latin America countries who say their environment is being destroyed in the name of the green transition.<\/p>\n
Peru, the world\u2019s third largest copper producer, is witnessing a massive expansion of mining activities, including the development of a new copper mine in the Moquegua region, which is majority-owned by British company Anglo American.<\/p>\n
The mine, which started operations in 2022, has attracted fierce local opposition, not least for the decision to reroute the River Asana, the main source of drinking water for the region.<\/p>\n
Anglo American claims the river is being protected from the mining activity, but locals have complained of lower farming yields.\u00a0Concerns have also been raised about water contamination, with a number of studies<\/a> showning how mining communities in Peru suffer from health problems<\/a> associated with heavy-metal poisoning.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have serious concerns about the growing demand for critical minerals in the Global North,\u201d Jaime Borda, executive secretary of Red Muqui, a Peruvian group campaigning against mining, told The i Paper.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s causing great pressure on the Global South and the territories where these critical minerals are. This means more pressure from the extractive industries and more impact on the health of the people who live there.\u201d<\/p>\n Across the border in Chile, environmental groups are sounding the alarm about the impact of the growing demand for lithium.<\/p>\n Together Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, often referred to as the \u201clithium triangle\u201d hold 75 per cent of the world\u2019s lithium supply beneath their salt flats. <\/p>\n![\"default\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_277756288.jpg\")
A mine in Chile, part of the \u2018lithium triangle\u2019 in Latin America (Photo: Nicole Kramm)<\/p>\n