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Strategic Resources Gain Spotlight in the Clean Energy, Technology and Security Industry
Critical minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earths, have become protagonists in the global economic scenario.
They are essential for the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, solar panels, and semiconductors.
With the advancement of the energy transition and the increase in global digitalization, the demand for these elements is growing steadily.
This raises alerts about the dependence on a few suppliers and the risks of scarcity.
Countries and economic blocs have been adopting measures since 2020 to reduce vulnerability in the supply chain of these strategic inputs.
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USA and China compete for Brazil over resources that could be worth trillions — rare earths put the country at the center of a global dispute
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After China, it’s now the turn of the USA to ‘secure’ a share of Brazil’s natural resources: the country buys critical rare earths for R$ 3 billion and enters the center of the global technology dispute.
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Rare earths are in everything, from cell phones to bullet trains, and what almost no one realizes is why they have become the target of such a delicate global war.
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Brazil extracts 26.3 million tons of ore from what was previously treated as waste, transforming residues into wealth, producing over 3 million tons of sand, and demonstrating how national mining is relearning to generate value.
Limited Supply Puts Economic Security on Alert
Although the market for critical minerals has shown strong expansion, the supply is still concentrated in a few countries.
China dominates the production of rare earths, accounting for more than 60% of the global total, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a 2023 report.
This increases the vulnerability of other economies, especially in the defense and high technology sectors, where these minerals are irreplaceable.
Moreover, extraction and refining involve environmentally delicate processes, which impose additional challenges.
Diversifying global production with sustainability has become one of the top goals of major economies in recent years.
Demand Growth Drives Global Policies
The race for renewable sources, such as solar and wind, and for the electrification of urban mobility has caused the demand for lithium and cobalt to quadruple since 2015.
The World Bank warned in 2022 that to meet global climate targets by 2050, current production of these inputs will need to be multiplied by six.
Several countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and members of the European Union, have structured national plans to explore and refine critical minerals.
These actions strengthen local productive chains and reduce external dependence.
Sustainability and Geopolitics Influence Strategic Decisions
Beyond economic importance, critical minerals play a central role in geopolitical strategies.
Energy security and dominance over technological production chains have become priorities for various nations.
Governments, such as that of the USA, classified these minerals as national security assets in 2021.
At the same time, there is a growing demand for extraction processes with lower environmental impact, which drives investments in clean mining.
There are also incentives for a circular economy, allowing for the reuse of materials throughout the value chain.
Technological Innovation Depends on Stability in the Supply Chain
The advancement of artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and the Internet of Things directly depends on these resources. In addition, nickel and rare earths are crucial for electronic components and high-performance electric motors.
However, shortages or disruptions in the supply of these minerals can compromise the development of entire sectors. For this reason, companies and governments have been accelerating bilateral partnerships and multilateral agreements since 2023.
Thus, these actions aim to ensure a stable, sustainable, and ethical supply of these elements, which are essential for the economy of the future.
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