欧盟要去月亮上挖矿？还有这些国家也在推动太空资源挖掘

Core Viewpoint - The European Union (EU) is exploring space mining, particularly targeting the Moon, as a potential source for raw materials essential for renewable energy technologies due to reliance on non-EU countries being challenged [1][3]. Group 1: Space Mining Initiatives - The EU Commission's annual Strategic Foresight Report highlights the need for advanced mining technologies, including space mining, to secure critical materials like lithium, copper, nickel, and rare earth metals [1][3]. - Luxembourg is positioned as a hub for space mining in Europe, planning to utilize robotics for extracting resources from the Moon and asteroids, which are rich in practical metals and precious metals [3][4]. - The European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) was established in 2020 to focus on the scientific, technological, and economic aspects of space resource utilization [4]. Group 2: Demand for Key Minerals - The demand for key minerals is surging due to the energy transition, with estimates indicating that the global copper mining requirement over the next 25 years will equal the total mined in history [5]. - The EU anticipates a 12-fold increase in lithium demand for batteries by 2030 compared to 2020 levels, and a 21-fold increase by 2050, while currently lacking any lithium mining operations within its borders [5]. - The EU is heavily reliant on imports for rare earth materials, with nearly 100% dependence, which poses risks of supply disruptions and price volatility [5]. Group 3: Challenges in Resource Recovery - Despite the strategic importance of rare earth recycling, a facility established by Heraeus in Germany to recover rare earth magnets is struggling to achieve full production capacity and is currently operating at a loss [6].