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Circumventing the Chokepoint: Can the US Produce More Rare Earths?
›Nowhere is China’s critical mineral dominance greater than in rare earth supply chains. In 2022, the US government estimated that China controlled “nearly 60 percent of mined production, over 85 percent of processing capacity, and over 90 percent of permanent magnet production.”
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ECSP Weekly Watch | October 23 – 27
›A window into what we are reading at the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program
DRC Mining Project Displaces a Local Community
Kolwezi is the “cobalt capital of the world.” But residents of this city in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being compelled to relocate under questionable circumstances in order to make room for a new mine sponsored by the Chinese mining company COMMUS.
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The State of Play for Critical Mineral Policies: A Berlin Climate Security Conference Roundtable
›The global transition to low-carbon energy is spurring new momentum to produce and secure the mineral inputs necessary for renewable technologies. Yet meeting demand may prove difficult. From electric cars to wind turbines, essential renewable energy technologies often require more minerals than fossil fuel-powered infrastructure. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that efforts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement could lead to a fourfold increase in mineral demand by 2040.
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China Leads the Race to the Bottom: Deep Sea Mining for Critical Minerals
›In December 2022, at the Nansha District port in the Pearl River Delta, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation unveiled China’s first oceanographic drilling ship—capable of mining 10,000 meters deep. This launch showcased China’s rapid advances as a major player in the global race to extract critical minerals at the bottom of the ocean.
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China’s Critical Mineral Model in Latin America
›The great power competition underway between the United States and China has a ripple effect in each nation’s neighborhood. As the United States prepares for possible conflict seven thousand miles away in the Taiwan Strait, China is expanding its economic influence in Latin America.
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Examining China’s Impact on Mining in Africa: Critiques and Credible Responses
›The increased demand for minerals driven by the renewable energy transition has put China’s involvement in mining activities in Africa in the spotlight. But understanding the challenges posed by this activity means we need to situate it within broader contexts.
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John Podesta on the Inflation Reduction Act and a New American Industrial Strategy
›Through the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden administration has launched a new industrial strategy. Today’s episode of New Security Broadcast highlights a fireside chat at a Wilson Center event between John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation, and Duncan Wood, Wilson Center Vice President for Strategy and New Initiatives. Podesta and Wood explore the opportunities provided by the Inflation Reduction Act for the U.S. and its allies.
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Building Peace by Formalizing Gold Mining in the Central Sahel
›The Central Sahel is increasingly deemed the new epicenter of terrorism, accounting for 35 percent of global terrorism deaths in 2021. Yet as the situation in the region continues to deteriorate, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) both persists and proliferates. For instance, in Mali, where much of the region’s security crisis originates, this conundrum is laid bare.
Showing posts from category minerals.