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The Scramble for Critical Minerals

Author

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  • Christopher Adam
  • Rabah Arezki

    (FERDI - Fondation pour les Etudes et Recherches sur le Développement International, CERDI - Centre d'Études et de Recherches sur le Développement International - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UCA - Université Clermont Auvergne, Harvard Kennedy School)

  • Rick van der Ploeg

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

This paper examines economic and geo-political consequences of the current phase of superpower competition to secure access to the critical minerals that are central to the global energy transition, digitalisation, and the AI-led transformation of the global economy. We first review the upstream mining of critical minerals, which takes place primarily in developing countries, before considering downstream elements of critical mineral supply chains, including the central role of China in the processing of these minerals. We discuss the socio-economic and environmental consequences associated with the race for critical minerals and conclude with a discussion of policies that may be deployed to support equitable and sustainable management of these minerals in an era of unprecedented technological and geopolitical uncertainty.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Adam & Rabah Arezki & Rick van der Ploeg, 2026. "The Scramble for Critical Minerals," Working Papers hal-05557713, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-05557713
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-05557713v1
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