The US v China: critical minerals race | Global News Podcast

Critical minerals – used in the production of smart phones, electric car batteries and wind turbines – have become a hot geopolitical bargaining chip.

Demand for these precious natural resources, like cobalt, lithium and copper is growing rapidly, especially as countries turn to green energy solutions.

Securing America’s supply of the minerals is a key priority for President Trump – who has announced the launch of a US stockpile called ‘Project Vault’ and held a summit in Washington of more than 50 countries, to establish a trading bloc that could counter China – which dominates the global supply chain.

At the same time, The International Energy Agency has told the BBC that cooperation on the supply of such minerals is vital for the future of renewable energy and that supply and demand issues in future would pose a huge challenge for energy security.

We speak to the BBC’s business reporter Jonathan Josephs, who has been in touch with the head of The International Energy Agency’s new critical minerals division to find out what the future holds.

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