The AI arms race has a critical minerals problem, with Michael Walshe and Jeff Dickerson

Join us for our annual Summits in Singapore, Houston and London: https://rystad.info/49X79uFLet’s Talk Energy and dig into the increasingly contentious world of critical minerals. These materials, and particularly rare earth elements, have vaulted to the forefront of the growing intersection between energy and security, forcing the West to reckon with China’s almost complete dominance of a sector that is the building block for everything from renewable power generation and batteries to computer chips and radar systems. The US and many of its allies are trying to rapidly develop a viable alternative supply chain through a combination of industrial policy, trade diplomacy and innovation. While seen as a critical issue for both countries, the summit between China’s President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump resulted in no concrete advances in trade policy, leaving an uneasy truce between the two sides. How did China become so dominant in mining and processing critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements and how is it using this leverage? How can the West begin to close the gap and why are new approaches needed for non-Chinese companies to compete? What does a viable critical minerals industry in the West look like, and how long could it take to develop?  Related Analysis Putting things in perspective: Data center investments now on par with renewables, oil and gas (available to non-clients)  Battery Metals Weekly: US zeros in on independent critical minerals supply (clients only) Battery Metals Weekly: US eyes recycling for critical mineral independence (clients only) Tariff update: Tariff politics intensify as G7 mineral bloc forms (clients only) Related Episodes  Will power-hungry data centers overwhelm the grid? Winners and losers in Trump’s energy agenda Let’s Talk Energy is a Rystad Energy Production.    Produced by Elliot Busby & Både Og.    Executive producers: Noah Brenner, Elliot Busby, Evodie Fleury-Greaker & Erik Means.    Follow us on:   LinkedIn    YouTube    Instagram    X