Report highlights sand still key for British industry
British Geological Survey highlights industrial sand's importance is often overlooked as an essential material to the UK economy.
The Industrial Sand Future Markets factsheet outlines that sand is needed notably for the glass, foundry and leisure industries, as well as underpinning numerous high-value manufacturing industries.
But the combination of high demand and the limited number of quarries capable of meeting stringent sand specifications may increase the risk of supply shortages and associated price increases.
The factsheet states the importance of industrial sand is often overlooked because of the smaller volumes of sand consumed, intermediate processing steps, or limited awareness of supply chains.
Industries that rely on silica-based chemicals, advanced materials such as reinforced glass fibre and advanced component manufacture using casting all rely on UK sourced industrial sand.
It finds that, for many applications, strict consumer specifications limit the sand used to a handful of sites nationally.
And while many sands can be ‘upgraded’ to meet a wider range of consumer specifications through energy intensive processing, this requires significant investment in plant equipment at sites and has associated carbon costs.
The factsheet further recognises that trends in increased recycling may reduce pressure on virgin raw materials, but there are significant drivers to suggest demand for primary industrial sand is likely to increase in the short to medium term.
Notably:
- Decarbonisation policies, which increase demand for raw materials used. It is needed for wind turbine blades, double/triple glazing, rail traction/braking and water filtration
- Government targets for an increase in house building and related infrastructure. Although in the medium to long term, recycling of both end-products and sand may reduce demand.
The demand for the highest quality sand is likely to remain high to counterbalance the lower quality of recycled materials, finds the British Geological Survey. While maintaining current level of supply will still require development of new sites and extension of existing ones as existing reserves are depleted.
The report has been welcomed by the Mineral Products Association (MPA). According to the MPA, the material’s role in the transition to net-zero make it one of the most economically important minerals extracted in the British Isles.
The data shows that total industrial sand production in Great Britain fell slightly from 4.9Mt in 2018 to 4.7Mt in 2023. Although the MPA consider this minimal considering the broader decline in construction materials in the same period.
Nick Horsley, MPA Director of Planning and Industrial Minerals, says, ‘Where industrial sand comes from matters because downstream manufacturers rely on narrow specifications of materials that can only be sourced from a handful of quarries, and mineral deposits are not readily interchangeable.
'Government policy makers have yet to realise that industrial sand is the non-metallic mineral backbone of the country’s energy transition, let alone its extensive array of other uses. Right now, it’s vital to ensure that UK reserves, planning permissions and supply chains keep pace with demand.’
Industrial Sand Future Markets is available on the British Geological Survey website.
