MINEX Forum

Tag: Katherina Reiche

  • Germany and UK Sign Critical Minerals Agreement in Berlin as Post-Brexit Economic Partnership Deepens

    Germany and UK Sign Critical Minerals Agreement in Berlin as Post-Brexit Economic Partnership Deepens

    Germany and the United Kingdom are set to formalise a strategic agreement on rare earth minerals at a German-British economic forum in Berlin, as the two countries build on the framework established by the Kensington Agreement signed in July 2025 to deepen post-Brexit cooperation across defence, security and the economy.

    British Business Secretary Peter Kyle and German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche are due to sign the agreement, which the two ministers described in a joint statement as covering “collaboration across the entirety of the critical raw materials landscape.” The signing marks a concrete step in translating the Kensington Agreement’s broad ambitions into sector-specific industrial policy.

    Kyle, speaking to dpa ahead of the Berlin visit, framed critical minerals as central to both economic security and the growth sectors of the future. “Critical minerals underpin much of the economic security that we need,” he said, pointing to technology, medical equipment and other high-value industries as directly dependent on secure mineral supply. He acknowledged that while both Germany and the UK produce some rare earth minerals domestically, European output cannot match China’s scale — making coordinated action between allied nations essential. “By working together we can be compatible, and we can be strategic, and we can lay the foundations for long-term resilience,” he said, describing the bilateral relationship as “very instinctive.”

    The agreement builds on a period of intensified European engagement with the critical minerals challenge. The EU and the US signed a Critical Minerals Memorandum of Understanding and Action Plan last week. Germany also signed a separate strategic partnership with Brazil focused on rare earth supply earlier this month. The UK has bilateral minerals cooperation agreements with countries including Kazakhstan, Australia and Canada.

    Alongside the minerals agreement, the two countries announced plans to cooperate on artificial intelligence. The UK is joining the EU’s AI Champions initiative, and Kyle argued that Europe’s failure to produce a trillion-dollar technology company underscored the need for cross-border collaboration. “That spark has got to come from like-minded countries that share a sense of ambition,” he said.

  • Torngat Metals Secures Rare Earth Supply Deal with German Magnet Maker VAC

    Torngat Metals Secures Rare Earth Supply Deal with German Magnet Maker VAC

    Montreal-based Torngat Metals has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with German company Vacuumschmelze (VAC) to pursue a long-term supply agreement for rare earth oxides. The non-binding deal was formalised in Berlin on Tuesday, marking a significant step in diversifying the global rare earth supply chain.

    The agreement was signed by Torngat Metals CEO Yves Leduc and VAC CEO Erik Eschen, with the attendance of Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson and Germany’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche. Both nations have been actively seeking to reduce dependence on China, which currently dominates the global rare earths industry, particularly for technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, and defence systems.

  • Germany’s New Economy and Energy Minister Calls for “Reality Check” in Energy Policy

    Germany’s New Economy and Energy Minister Calls for “Reality Check” in Energy Policy

    Katherina Reiche, the newly appointed German Economy and Energy Minister from the conservative Christian Democrat (CDU) party, has called for a “new agreement on the fundamentals” of the country’s energy strategy. In her inaugural address, Reiche emphasized the need for a freer energy market and greater innovation, with energy security as the top priority. “The blackout on the Iberian Peninsula showed how vulnerable an electricity system can be. We must prepare ourselves for minimizing risks of this kind,” she stated.

    While acknowledging the progress made in climate action through the expansion of wind and solar power, Reiche stressed that the associated systemic risks and costs had been underestimated. As part of a comprehensive “reality check” in energy policy, she argued for better alignment of renewable power expansion with grid infrastructure improvements.

    Reiche also underlined that renewable energy alone would not suffice to reliably power an industrialized nation like Germany. To bridge this gap, the government plans to expedite auctions for up to 20 gigawatts of new gas-fired power plant capacity and expand carbon management technologies (CCS/CCU). Further, she committed to fulfilling the coalition’s agreements, including a reformed approach to decarbonizing the heating sector with flexible CO2-reduction measures, the introduction of an industry power price, and the use of reserve power plants for price stabilization.

    In her address, Reiche praised her predecessor, Robert Habeck of the Green Party, for his efforts during the energy crisis spurred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, recognizing his resilience in facing political pressure while making critical decisions.

    Reiche concluded her speech with a call to tackle Germany’s economic challenges, acknowledging the impact of high taxes, energy costs, and bureaucratic hurdles on industrial competitiveness. While noting external pressures from Russia’s war and the US’s trade policies under Donald Trump, she pointed to Germany’s own structural issues as the primary obstacles. “The root cause of the country’s problems is ‘Made in Germany.’ But that also means the solution can be ‘Made in Germany,’” she affirmed. Reiche promised a policy approach focused on activation and market-driven solutions over regulation.