Morocco urges global action on critical mineral supply risks at OECD forum

9 articles · Updated · Anadolu Agency | English · Apr 28

Speaking in Istanbul, Minister Leila Benali highlighted the need to boost copper extraction by 25%, cobalt by 100%, and lithium by over 300% within six years.
She warned that mineral production and refining are dangerously concentrated, with China refining 70% of capacity for 19 out of 20 critical minerals, posing major supply chain risks.
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann stressed that only coordinated, open-market approaches and international cooperation can ensure resilient supply chains and support the energy and digital transitions.

Can Western alliances build a new mineral supply chain faster than China can disrupt it?

Will the global scramble for minerals create wealth in developing nations or a new resource curse?

Can recycling and innovation scale fast enough to avert a massive global mining boom?

Are we trading fossil fuel dependency for a new, more volatile reliance on critical minerals?

How will new ESG standards be enforced when the demand for minerals is so urgent?

Is a global trade war over the world's green technology resources now inevitable?