Contested Resources: The Story of Critical Minerals
Critical minerals are naturally occurring elements and compounds on which modern economies rely for manufacturing, the energy transition, and defense, yet their supply chains often remain fragile or highly concentrated. Governments and analysts generally evaluate how critical a mineral is by considering two main factors: its economic significance to essential technologies and the likelihood that its supply could face disruptions. This combination of strong demand and elevated exposure to supply risks is what classifies a mineral as “critical.”Why they matter nowAs the world accelerates toward electrification, renewable power, digital networks and sophisticated defense technologies, the need for specific minerals has…
