The International Lead Association has urged lawmakers and regulators to recognise the strategic value of lead ahead of elections in the European Union in June.
It points to three areas where the economy can benefit. They include more support for the lead battery value chain as a vital component of Europe’s green transition; recognising lead as a strategically important raw material; and resisting unnecessary administrative burdens.
ILA’s executive director, Dr Andy Bush, said: “Lead is a metal that is often overlooked in terms of its importance for many key industries and value chains. Whether it’s batteries in vehicles or providing back-up power for data centres, or cables linking windfarms, it’s a metal that Europe relies on for many day-to-day services and products, all of which underpin Europe’s economic strength and future growth potential.
“Demand for batteries will continue to soar in Europe with greater electrification. To meet that requirement, significantly more advanced lead batteries will be needed to provide energy storage for microgrids, hybrid vehicles, EV charging stations, telecommunications and backup power for data centres and other critical infrastructure.
ILA spokesperson Hywel Jarman said the ILA and Consortium for Battery Innovation “will definitely be engaging” with newly elected European parliamentarians as well as a wide range of other stakeholders.
Photo: ILA’s Andy Bush said lead’s importance is ‘often overlooked’. ILA
