2025.09. 11 本文字数：1438，阅读时长大约4分钟 作者 | 第一财经 冯迪凡 欧盟正在探索转向外太空寻求可再生能源的原材料。 本周，欧盟委员会在最新发布的年度《战略前瞻报告》中表示，全球秩序正遭受巨大冲击，欧盟可能 无法再依赖非欧盟国家供应低碳能源技术所需的关键材料，"作为应对，未来可能日益重视……包括 太空采矿在内的先进采矿技术，首选目标便是月球。" 需要解释的是，锂、铜、镍及稀土等金属对可再生能源和电动汽车至关重要，而欧盟境内开采的这类 金属寥寥无几。简言之，欧盟需要开采月球资源。 据美国能源信息署统计，欧佩克成员国（OPEC）合计掌控全球35%的石油储备，占全球石油贸易 总量50%。这种主导地位使该组织及其成员国对国际油价乃至全球经济拥有巨大影响力。 欧盟委员会以此举例并表示："这种控制可能引发显著的价格通胀并限制关键物资的获取，对欧盟的 战略自主权和清洁能源转型构成严峻挑战。作为应对，循环经济实践和先进采矿技术（包括太空采 矿，从月球开始）的创新可能日益受到重视。" 目前，包括美国宇航局（NASA）和日本宇宙航空研究开发机构（JAXA）在内的众多政府机构都在 推动太空采矿。 在欧盟内部， ...

Group 1 - China's export control on rare earth elements has significantly impacted the EU's high-tech industries, particularly in electric vehicles and renewable energy sectors, with 92% of the EU's rare earth permanent magnets relying on imports from China [2][11] - The EU's attempt to impose high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles led to a retaliatory reduction of 80% in China's rare earth export quotas, which has severely affected European automotive manufacturers [9][7] - The EU's dependency on China for rare earth elements has been highlighted as a critical vulnerability, especially as the EU faces rising industrial electricity costs and a lack of alternative sources [4][11] Group 2 - The EU has proposed a plan for lunar mining to alleviate its resource dependency, aiming to extract rare earth elements and helium-3 from the moon, which has sparked skepticism from the international community [13][15] - The timeline for the EU's lunar mining initiative includes launching a lunar probe by 2030 and establishing a small lunar base by 2040, which is a significant acceleration from previous deep space exploration plans [19] - However, the technical, economic, and legal challenges of lunar mining are substantial, with current costs for lunar mining projected to be significantly higher than terrestrial mining [21][23][25] Group 3 - The lunar mining initiative reflects a broader geopolitical struggle for resource control, with the US seeking to influence the rules of space resource utilization through the Artemis Accords, while Russia and China oppose the privatization of lunar resources [29][31] - China's strategy includes strengthening its rare earth processing capabilities and expanding its presence in the European renewable energy market, which undermines the effectiveness of EU trade protection measures [31][33] - The EU's reliance on lunar mining as a solution to its immediate resource crisis indicates a strategic anxiety, as the demand for rare earth elements is expected to triple in the next five years, with no viable alternative supply chains established by 2030 [33]

Core Viewpoint - The development of space mining technology, exemplified by China's first space mining robot, highlights the growing interest in extraterrestrial resource extraction to address potential resource depletion on Earth [1][2]. Group 1: Reasons for Space Mining - Space mining aims to acquire extraterrestrial resources to mitigate the potential depletion of Earth's mineral resources [2]. - The Moon and asteroids in the solar system are rich in resources, including Helium-3, thorium, rare earth elements, and various metals, which are scarce on Earth [2][3]. - Near-Earth asteroids are particularly attractive due to their concentrated resources and lower technical barriers for extraction [2]. Group 2: Challenges in Space Mining - Space mining presents significant challenges, including operating in microgravity environments, which complicates the stability and efficiency of traditional mining equipment [4][5]. - Other challenges include resource utilization technology, extreme radiation, deep space communication, energy supply, and transportation logistics [4][5]. - The high fuel costs associated with transporting mined resources back to Earth and the need for sustainable energy sources for long-term missions are critical hurdles [5]. Group 3: Current Research and Future Prospects - Research in space mining is still in its early stages, focusing on resource exploration, drilling technology, and in-situ resource utilization [6]. - International efforts are advancing in areas such as autonomous robotics, efficient energy systems, and materials technology, with successful tests conducted by countries like Japan and the USA [6]. - The long-term vision for space mining includes supporting the establishment of lunar and Martian bases and fostering a space economy [6][8]. Group 4: Future of Space Mining Robots - Future space mining robots are envisioned to be fully autonomous "space factories" with self-repair capabilities and adaptability across celestial bodies, relying on advancements in AI, materials science, and energy technology [6][7].