International Energy Agency: China dominates the field of clean energy metals

In the coming decades, renewable energy is expected to replace fossil fuels, and this large-scale transition will have a significant impact
on the demand for raw materials.
More green energy means more wind turbines, solar panels and batteries, and more clean energy metals
needed to build these technologies.

Data from the International Energy Agency showcases the key metal extraction and processing sites
needed for the Green Revolution.
The data shows that China is the largest producer of most of the key minerals of the Green Revolution in the world, and dominates many of the key minerals
.

Mining industry

In terms of clean energy metal mining, represented by the main key elements, in terms of copper, Chile is the world's largest copper producer, accounting for 28% of the global total, followed by Peru with 12% and China with 8%.

In terms of nickel metals, Indonesia is the largest producer, accounting for 33% of global production, followed by the Philippines with 12% and Russia with 11%.

When it comes to cobalt metals, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) dominates, accounting for 69% of total global production, followed by Australia and Russia with 4%
each.

In terms of rare earth elements, China produces 60% of the world's rare earth elements, which are used as components of high-tech devices, including smartphones and computers
.

China also has a 13% market share in lithium production, although that market is still dominated
by Australia (52%) and Chile (22%).
This element is key
to producing rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops and electric vehicles.

Processing

But in terms of processing business, China is the dominant economy, for example, the country accounts for 35% of global nickel processing, 58% of lithium processing, 65% of cobalt and 87%
of rare earths.

Although the United States is the world's largest economy, it does not appear among the largest producers of the listed metals
.
To close the gap, the Biden administration recently issued an executive order reviewing the U.
S.
Critical and Strategic Materials Strategy
.

It is also worth noting that although Russia is one of the world's leading producers of minerals such as copper, iron and palladium, it is also not among the top producers of clean energy metals
.

The necessary shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy raises interesting questions about geopolitics and how these supply chains will be affected
.

In the race for the raw materials needed for the Green Revolution, new world powers may emerge
as demand for clean energy metals grows.
At present, China is in the lead
.