With a general election approaching, the MPA is urging all parties to carefully consider the supply of essential domestic mineral products in their manifesto pledges on housing and transport, schools and hospitals, flood defences and renewable energy infrastructure. In this document, the MPA outlines the three fundamental issues that the next Government needs to get to grips with to support UK industry - accelerating decarbonisation, boosting economic growth and delivering critical infrastructure.
Published: 2024
Mineral products underpin nearly every part of our lives; from homes, schools and hospitals to roads, railways and ports and even energy, water, steel, glass and agriculture. To deliver the essential materials that underpin the national economy, we estimate that 4 billion tonnes of aggregate will be needed by 2035 across the UK.
The sector faces significant policy challenges on industrial decarbonisation, planning and resource availability, and delivery of major projects. The Scottish and Westminster Governments must address these for the industry to be able to fully fulfil its role in supporting Scotland’s objectives for society and the economy.
The UK concrete and cement industry has developed a roadmap to beyond net zero by 2050 – removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits each year.
Published: 2020
Aggregates are essential to our economy and quality of life. They are the main constituent of the foundation and fabric of our built environment, onshore, offshore above ground, on the ground and below our feet.
This report highlights pressure points that may come to bear on some traditional sources of aggregates, through restricted availability and limited access to particular mineral resources.
Published: 2022
Within the pages of this book we have captured just some of the countless fantastic achievements of this essential industry in supporting nature recovery over the last 50 years. I admit it’s been a tall order, if only because of the scale of the task, so I hope that we have done the mineral extraction and mineral products sector justice.
Published: 2021
The long-term reserve base upon which the aggregates sector and its customers are so dependent remains under pressure, with annual sales continuing to exceed the rate that new reserves are being permitted or ‘replenished’.
This MPA report sets out 18 regulatory reforms that the Government should enact to reduce uncertainty, delays and costs in the mineral products sector.
The report makes a series of clear recommendations for reform of planning and permitting rules, making regulators more accountable for their performance and commitment to economic growth, and reducing regulatory barriers to innovation.
Published: 2023
In this report, the MPA highlights the industry’s significant contribution to the UK economy through the domestic production of construction and industrial mineral products from 2,300 active quarries and plants nationwide.