Transition minerals
Transition minerals are crucial for climate action. Their extraction must benefit citizens in the places where they are mined.
Minerals like cobalt, copper, lithium and nickel are essential for technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that meeting Paris Agreement climate goals will mean a quadrupling by 2040 of demand for such so-called “transition minerals.” For some, demand could even reach 30 times current levels by 2040. Improved governance of the mining of these commodities is therefore crucial.
Better governance can help avoid delays and disruptions in the transition away from carbon-intensive technologies. It can also protect the well-being of producer countries from the negative social and environmental impacts of mining, and ensure that economic opportunities and benefits are shared fairly.
In focus countries including Chile, DRC, Mexico, Peru, and Tanzania, NRGI analyzes opportunities and risks—including corruption risks—in the extraction of transition minerals. The organization also seeks to influence global standards and key policies related to their governance.
Triple Win
Africa's transition minerals are critical to the world's move away from fossil fuels. But reforms are necessary if transition minerals are to benefit people and planet.
Related people
Fernanda Ballesteros
Mexico Country Manager
Juan Luis Dammert
Latin America Director
Papa Daouda Diene
Africa Economic Analyst
Susannah Fitzgerald
Governance Officer
Andrea Furnaro
Policy Analyst
Patrick Heller
Chief Program Officer
Moses Kulaba
East Africa Regional Manager
David Manley
Lead Economic Analyst – Energy Transition
Silas Olan'g
Africa Energy Transition Advisor
Robert Pitman
Senior Governance Officer
Matthieu Salomon
Acting Governance Programs Director | Lead, Anticorruption
Thomas Scurfield
Africa Senior Economic Analyst
Amir Shafaie
Legal and Economic Programs Director
Ricardo Troncoso
Mexico Officer
William Davis
Senior Economic Analyst
Roger Vutsoro
Democratic Republic of the Congo Country Manager
Abir Yahyaoui
Tunisia Officer