Dependence on Chinese supply chain puts green jobs at risk, thinktank says

Tens of thousands of jobs could be lost if the UK's clean energy supply chains suffers a shock as a result of an over-reliance on China, a thinktank has warned.

- Jillian Ambrose

EV manufacturers such as the Mini plant in Cowley are vulnerable to disruption in battery supplies

(BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES)

A yearlong disruption to the supply of essential battery components used to manufacture electric vehicles could wipe out production of more than 580,000 electric cars and put 90,000 jobs at risk, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research.

A delay to the supply of solar components and batteries could also delay the opening of solar farms, the IPPR added, putting the UK's clean energy goals at risk and costing the economy an extra £1.5bn a year by keeping the UK reliant on expensive gas generation.

Its report underlines growing concerns over the UK's reliance on Chinese supply chains amid widespread geopolitical upheaval after the Covid pandemic, including a halt of Russian gas supplies and escalating global trade tensions.

"The world's over-reliance on China exacerbates these risks," the report said. "Eighty to ninety per cent of global refining for critical minerals is controlled by China. Relying on a single source of supply leaves the UK and our allies more vulnerable to geopolitical and economic shocks."