UK report warns on minerals for AI data centers

The UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Center has published a new report on mineral requirements for digital technologies, warning that AI, data centers and quantum computing will intensify pressure on critical mineral supply chains.

• The report says more than 90 new data centers are planned in the UK by 2030, and cites the need for minerals including copper, aluminium, rare earth elements, lithium and cobalt for digital components and backup power systems.
• It recommends international partnerships, supply chain diversification, domestic mining, refining, purification and recycling, and greater reporting of material requirements; the report was funded by DBIST as part of the 2025 to 2026 CMIC work programme.
• The article also identifies prospective UK mineral projects in Cornwall, Devon, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and notes that a 1 GW data center could use as much power as up to 3.2 million UK households in a year.