This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler Critical Mass – The new battle for energy supremacy
Dec 11, 2025
In this discussion, Dr. Patrick Schröder, a Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House with expertise in energy transitions and rare earths, dives into the critical role of minerals like lithium and cobalt in clean energy technology. He highlights China's dominance in rare earth processing and the geopolitical shifts from oil and gas to mineral security. The conversation extends to the implications of AI on energy demand, Indigenous concerns in mining, and the need for international cooperation to navigate the challenges of this critical transition.
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Energy Geopolitics Is Shifting To Minerals
- The energy shift moves geopolitical risk from oil and gas to critical minerals and supply chains.
- Renewables and electrification make minerals like lithium, cobalt and copper central to energy security.
Rare Earths Are Critical And Concentrated
- Rare earths are 17 elements crucial for magnets, displays and defense technologies but hard to extract cleanly.
- China dominates mining and processing, creating concentrated global dependence that raises strategic risk.
2010 China–Japan Export Leverage
- In 2010 China restricted rare earth exports to Japan after a maritime dispute, prompting Japan to diversify supply.
- That episode taught countries the danger of overreliance and spurred investments in Australia and Malaysia.