"I don't think any of us thought that 2025 would be the year that we'd have to pull out our periodic table of elements for a geopolitical discussion, but here we are."
Robert Strayer
"We need to work together to break that checkpoint that China has on critical mineral supply chains. It is safer and cleaner, and we have the ability to do it."
The Hon. Young Kim
"We need to be much faster and smarter in providing capital, flexible capital, toward those critical mine projects because we all know where they are."
Atanas Bostandjiev
"Everyone says they are interested in resource security, but they do not want to pay for it. If you want to process in the US, it will not be the cheapest option."
Jyothish George
Key Takeaways
Supply Chain Dependency: Western countries face critical dependency on adversaries for essential materials, with Africa controlling 30 – 40% of critical minerals while the Global South remains massively underinvested. Everyone wants resource security without paying for it, creating a fundamental economic challenge.
Investment and Financing Gaps: Tens of billions of dollars need deployment over the next 5 – 10 years, far exceeding government funding capabilities. Western financial institutions often flee mining investments in places like Congo or Zimbabwe, while Chinese investors see these as standard opportunities. Government funding paradoxically requires projects to be “de-risked” with good returns, but such projects wouldn’t need government funding.
Regulatory Bottlenecks: Permitting reform is essential, as some U.S. projects take up to six years just for processing permits. The Export-Import Bank remains handicapped by a 2% maximum default rate for strategically important projects.
Human Capital Crisis: There is insufficient interest from new generations in studying mineralogy or mining, creating a serious talent pipeline problem. People fail to realize that critical minerals are essential for “all the cool stuff” like AI and space technology.
Partnership Opportunities: Modern technology can optimize mining operations and generate positive community impacts through investments in infrastructure, water access, education, and healthcare.
Action Items
For Policymakers: Expedite permitting reform to reduce regulatory timelines from years to months. Strengthen economic statecraft by giving foreign service officers better tools to negotiate market access. Expand DFC authorization beyond traditional development projects to include critical mineral investments. Raise Export-Import Bank default rate caps above the current 2% maximum.
For Financial Institutions: Implement policy frameworks that make critical mineral investments in the Global South as acceptable as green energy projects. Develop innovative financing structures using first-loss or equity arrangements. Create public-private partnerships combining Western government backing with institutional capital.
For Industry Leaders: Develop comprehensive local partnerships in mineral-rich countries. Integrate sustainability and community development into mining projects. Invest in next-generation workforce development to address talent shortages.
For International Cooperation: Expand the Mineral Security Partnership beyond the current 14 countries plus the EU. Leverage strategic initiatives like the US-Ukraine mineral development fund as partnership models. Establish strategic offtake agreements from Western governments to support demand.
