Europe’s race toward a clean energy future faces a defining test: how to secure essential metals like lithium without sacrificing environmental and social trust. That’s the focus of Europe’s Lithium Paradox, a new documentary by Dr. Peter Tom Jones, Director of the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals. The film exposes the deep contradictions at the heart of Europe’s green ambitions — a continent eager for renewable energy and electric vehicles, yet resistant to the mining needed to make them possible.
“Europe stands at a critical crossroads,” says Dr. Jones. “We risk becoming completely dependent on third countries for essential materials like lithium — resources vital to building a circular economy and achieving net zero.”
The clash between ambition and action
The hour-long film spotlights two advanced lithium mining projects in Portugal and Serbia, both stalled by fierce public opposition and regulatory hurdles. While industry advocates argue that mining is essential to power clean technologies, citizens and environmental groups have raised alarms about ecological and social impacts.
“Policymakers are caught in the crossfire,” explains Jones. “Europe must move beyond entrenched positions and find common ground. This film is meant to spark understanding and show why responsible mining is not an option but a necessity.”
Europe’s Lithium Paradox is now touring universities, research centers, and mining conferences across the continent — and streaming globally on Amazon Prime.
The feedstock dilemma: mining before recycling
Jones warns against the illusion that Europe can recycle its way out of dependency. “You can’t recycle your way out of a fossil fuel economy,” he asserts. “We have to mine first and recover materials at end-of-life. There simply isn’t enough scrap in Europe — and won’t be until around 2035. That leaves us with a ten-year supply gap.”
He estimates that lithium mined in Serbia could power one million electric vehicles, creating a complete value chain — from extraction and refining to recycling and manufacturing.
“With ten or more industrial-scale sites, Europe could become self-sufficient in lithium. But if we don’t act now, we’ll sleepwalk into dependency.”
A mineral cold war
According to Jones, Europe is falling behind in what he calls a “minerals cold war.” While China and the United States aggressively secure supply chains and enact state-led strategies, Europe remains bogged down by delays.
“We’re wasting time waiting for permits and legislation,” says Jones. “Meanwhile, China bans exports of key tech metals, and the U.S. sets price floors for lithium recovery. They’re making the rules — Europe is just watching.”
The imbalance, he warns, could be catastrophic: “If we don’t act soon, we’ll lose our industrial independence. Europe will become just a consumer — not a producer — of clean technology.”
The human conflict: who are the real villains?
Despite its scientific grounding, the documentary has faced backlash. In Serbia and Portugal, local communities opposing mining projects accuse the filmmakers of promoting corporate interests.
Jones explains, “We tried to include community voices, but many refused to participate. Some even shouted at us to leave. Ironically, the mining companies weren’t happy either — they banned workers from watching it because it was too critical.”
This tension highlights Europe’s ethical paradox: the desire for clean energy versus the rejection of the resource extraction that makes it possible.
Jones insists the debate must move from emotion to evidence. “We can’t fight feelings with facts — but we can change the narrative,” he says. “Europe has the expertise, the technology, and the responsibility to mine sustainably. What we lack is the courage to act.”
Through Europe’s Lithium Paradox, Dr. Jones aims to ignite a conversation Europe can no longer afford to postpone. As the world accelerates toward electrification, Europe must decide whether it will mine its own path to sustainability — or import its future from others.
