The Nigerian Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and Alparslan Bayraktar, the Minister for Energy and Natural Resources of Türkiye, signed the mining cooperation agreement on the sidelines of the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit, a statement issued on May 25, 2026, in Abuja stated.

The pact builds on the previous mining cooperation agreement agreed upon between the two countries in 2021 and extends to areas such as mineral exploration, geological surveys, digitised licensing systems, technology transfer, human capital development, and joint mining projects.

“Nigeria is open to working with the Turkish government to strengthen governance structures, improve technical capacity and advance sustainable mining development in our country,” he said.

Apparently, President Bola Tinubu has supported efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Türkiye through mining and energy, the minister said, adding that current reforms had benefited the investment climate for global mining companies.

Alake said the government has put into effect measures to formalize mining operations, improve regulatory transparency and provide institutional backing for investors.

“We have significantly improved the ease of doing business and strengthened institutional support for investors,” he said, adding that foreign investors can repatriate their profits after undergoing regulatory compliance procedures.

According to the minister, the reforms were already helping support rising inflows of foreign direct investment into the mining sector, considered by Nigerian authorities as an essential component of strategic expansion that could generate earnings from exports, industrial inputs and fiscal revenues.

Alake also spoke on the vigilance on illegal mining activities implemented by the Tinubu administration, noting that the introduction of a dedicated mining marshals unit has strengthened enforcement efforts across the country.

More than 300 illegal mining operators, which include foreigners, have been arrested, and over 150 prosecutions are pending, he said. Authorities have also taken back over 100 illegal mining sites and given them back to licensed operators in an attempt to rebuild investor confidence and boost legal compliance in the industry.

The deal is part of a wider strategy for Turkey to broaden commercial and energy partnerships throughout African markets as Ankara expands its geopolitical and trade ties across the continent.

The alliance with Nigeria is strategic and timely, says Bayraktar, adding that rivalry for critical minerals and energy security is increasing around the world, so international cooperation for resources is becoming increasingly important.

“We are ready to invest in Nigeria because of the wonderful initiatives your government has put in place,” Bayraktar stated, further adding that Turkish companies were looking for possibilities not just in the mining sector but also in Nigeria’s energy and hydrocarbons sectors.

He said Türkiye had an eye on renewing agreements on energy cooperation with Nigeria, which is still one of the continent’s largest hydrocarbon producers and major supplier of natural gas and crude oil.

Bayraktar said Nigeria’s market size and base of resources made it an entry point for greater Turkish economic engagement in Africa.

The importance of geopolitical stability and conflict mitigation to long-term global energy security as well as sustainable mineral supply chains remains critical, stated Alake during a summit panel discussion related to energy security as well as global connectivity.

The push to broaden international mining partnerships is part of a broader government effort so as to unlock the vast untapped mineral reserves of Nigeria, which include lithium, gold, limestone, and bitumen as well as rare earth deposits, as global demand for transitional energy materials grows, analysts say.

The idea is that coal is not only a great source of fuel, but it also has small quantities of precious metals in it. For a country such as China which mines and burns massive amounts of the material, disregarding this resource is equivalent to throwing money on the table.

Explains Dai Shifeng, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, “The coal refuse contains a variety of metal elements and could become an important source of critical metal supply.”

What is recommended is not only the utilisation of fly ash, which is the waste left after the combustion of coal, but also what is commonly referred to as gangue. This is the rocky junk that usually gets mixed in with the coal as it gets mined.

Waste coal to metal resource

Coal occurs in seams or layers, often interbedded alongside layers of non-coal. They are frequently filtered out and just dumped as waste. As for fly ash, once the carbon is burnt away, the ash that remains is full of small mineral fragments that are often captured in smokestacks.

In the past, this ash has been dumped as industrial waste, mixed into cement or piled up. However, chemically speaking, this ash often has unexpectedly high levels of rare earth metals, aluminium compounds, etc.

These metals are critical for some advanced sectors like batteries, semiconductors, optics, motors, along with military applications. China has already been a leading supplier of many conventional mining and supply products, so any novel way to make money for old rope could be an important possible revenue stream.

Further, China already has the industrial base to employ waste materials such as fly ash and gangue to be a potential source for metals. Its huge coal infrastructure, coal-to-chemical plants as well as processing plants are easily adaptable to bear the weight.

The report explains that on-board facilities for regular washing, chemical processing and power generation are already available on coal production lines of China, offering a strong industrial basis for resource recovery. In short, China knows how to do this and has the capability to do it. The coal waste has already been highly concentrated where it ought to be for processing, i.e., concentrated within industrial areas.

Such a move would not just help feed the exploding EV, battery as well as electronics industries of China, but also assist it in meeting its goals of reducing reliance on imports. It would also help these individuals reduce waste, get the most value for their money out of coal mining and consumption, and assist them in effectively vertically integrating their supply chains.

Seems obvious; however, there is a catch – not all coal is identical, and different mines have distinct geological conditions with very different mineral traces within the coal produced.

At power plants, coal from various sources can be mixed, and the resultant fly ash may differ significantly in structure. This means, in fact, that one batch of fly ash might be loaded with something such as gallium while another has barely any.

That would render the extraction of critical metals from coal waste erratic and possibly not economically feasible if the process of extraction is costly.

The report further said that as the new energy industry develops rapidly, the need for critical metals is increasing, so the extraction of critical metals from coal waste is highly probable, and China’s expertise in germanium extraction offers a firm foundation for the extraction of various other metals.

Researchers often rely on broad collections of scientific material during long periods of study. In this space Z library distinguishes itself by combining quality and variety in one platform while supporting access to geological reports academic discussions and technical analysis. The value of an e-library becomes clear when mapping teams compare old assumptions with new discoveries. A single paper can shift the understanding of mineral zones groundwater movement or soil behavior.

Geological Research Shapes Better Resource Mapping

Geologists study more than rocks and minerals. They study patterns hidden beneath the ground. Satellite images drilling records and seismic readings all connect through interpretation. Resource mapping turns raw information into practical direction. Energy firms environmental teams and city planners all depend on accurate geological models.

The process has changed over time. Old paper maps once sat in dusty drawers like forgotten treasure chests. Modern systems move faster and cover wider regions. Digital archives support this progress by preserving decades of geological work. An e-library gives researchers room to compare theories from different eras without wasting time searching through scattered sources.

The shift toward broader access has also changed how teams collaborate across borders. A geologist in one country may compare findings with researchers thousands of miles away. Shared information creates a stronger foundation for mapping projects. It also reduces repeated mistakes and weak assumptions that once slowed development.

This progress rests on several important factors:

• Expanding Historical Records.

Older geological surveys still hold value today. Many regions were studied long before advanced equipment existed. Those reports contain observations gathered directly from the field. Modern scientists often revisit them to compare changes across decades. Resource mapping improves when past and present knowledge stand side by side. It is a bit like reading tree rings during a dry season. Every layer tells part of the story and no layer works alone.

• Faster Access To Scientific Material.

Research moves quickly when information stays easy to reach. Teams working under tight deadlines need direct access to technical papers and environmental studies. An e-library shortens the distance between discovery and application. Instead of spending weeks tracking printed archives researchers can focus on analysis and interpretation. This speed matters in projects involving mining water systems and land management where timing often shapes financial and environmental outcomes.

• Cross Discipline Collaboration.

Geology rarely works in isolation. Engineers climate experts and urban planners often rely on the same body of research. Shared access encourages stronger communication between fields. A groundwater study may guide agricultural planning while mineral mapping may support energy projects. Knowledge flows between sectors like rivers joining a larger stream. Resource mapping becomes more reliable when experts build from a common base of information.

The connection between geological knowledge and mapping accuracy continues to grow stronger. Better understanding creates sharper models and fewer blind spots. An e-library supports this chain by keeping scientific material within reach of researchers across the world.

Knowledge Networks Support Long Term Discovery

Resource mapping is never frozen in time. Landscapes change and scientific methods evolve. New discoveries often reshape old conclusions. A region once ignored may later reveal important mineral deposits or water reserves. This constant movement keeps geology alive and practical.

Access to wide collections of research strengthens that process. Information spreads through networks much like roots spreading beneath a forest floor. Quiet connections beneath the surface often hold the greatest strength. Geological progress follows the same rhythm. Each study supports another and each new insight sharpens the map a little more.

Mutapa Gold Resources, which is a state-backed miner, said on May 11, 2026, that it would spend $12 million on exploratory drilling at its gold assets within the country in 2026.

The move is part of a wider growth strategy, on top of existing investments from private mining companies like Caledonia Mining as well as Ariana Resources.

It is well to be noted that Mutapa Gold Resources is the mining arm of the sovereign wealth fund of Zimbabwe – the Mutapa Investment Fund. The company operates three gold mines in the country – Freda Rebecca, Jena as well as Shamva.

As per the company, the investment will be used to fund drilling programs at each location in order to extend the operating life of the mines by around 10 years.

Mutapa Gold also said it is seeking to raise some $250 million in financing so as to underwrite expansion plans to boost capacity for production throughout the three operations.

The declaration follows just days after Ariana Resources, the British mining company, began a A$1 million metallurgical testing programme at the Dokwe gold project.

The work aims to promote a final feasibility study for Dokwe, believed to be one of the next large-scale industrial gold mines in Zimbabwe, along with the Bilboes project being advanced by Caledonia Mining.

It is worth noting that the construction work has already begun at Bilboes. Caledonia alone intends to make investments of $132 million into the project in 2026.

Zimbabwe makes the strategic gold industry robust

The impetus for these projects came from gold prices jumping over 60% in 2025, prompting mining companies throughout Africa to fast-track investment in new developments.

Zimbabwe has become more and more identifiable within that pattern as the country seeks to build a gold industry still ruled by artisanal mining. Small-scale and artisanal miners continue to generate around 65% of Zimbabwe’s gold.

At present there are only a handful of industrial mines operating in the country – Caledonia Mining’s Blanket mine, Mutapa Gold Resources as well as Namib Minerals – How mine. Namib Minerals is also working on reopening plans for its Redwing as well as its Mazowe operations.

Apparently, the gold production in Zimbabwe hit a record 46.7 tonnes in 2025, a 17% increase compared to 2024. The new mining projects have the potential to substantially boost production in the coming years. The mine is anticipated to add approximately 200,000 ounces of yearly gold production alone in Bilboes, which is about 6.22 tonnes, once it reaches full output in 2029. Industrial mining expansion might become a more significant factor for Zimbabwe’s economy.

Gold is still the biggest export from Zimbabwe and is also crucial to the sustenance of the local ZIG currency by means of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s gold reserves strategy.

Financing is still a big challenge

But in spite of the rapid growth in the sector, the achievement of many of the announced projects will continue to depend on the extent to which companies can obtain the financing required to move innovations forward.

In the case of Mutapa Gold, negotiations remain ongoing to finalise the financial structure to generate the funds required to conduct a mine expansion. At the same time, the artisanal mining sector of Zimbabwe is also looking to formalise operations.

Recently, the Zimbabwe Miners Federation – ZMF went on to propose a roadmap to better regulate small-scale mining activities and also ensure that a bigger chunk of gold production is funnelled into formal trading systems.

Authorities and industry players observe those reforms as an additional important step towards tightening regulation of the gold mining sector in Zimbabwe all while boosting official gold circulation into the national economy.

Rare earth processing focus

It is worth noting that rare earth metallurgy and magnet manufacturing technologies are likely to be a major collaboration area. India happens to have heavy reserves of rare earth-bearing minerals, including reserves of monazite, but is heavily reliant on imports for sophisticated processing and high-performance permanent magnets that include neodymium-iron-boron – NdFeB magnets. India’s growing industrial goals could see it team up with institutions and firms in Russia engaged in rare earth research and in processing nuclear materials as prospective technology and investment partners.

Backing India’s manufacturing aspirations

These partnership talks on critical minerals and rare earths are part of India’s larger efforts to bolster its domestic critical mineral as well as magnet-manufacturing capacity. The Indian government has initiated programmes so as to achieve import independence for components utilised in electric mobility, electronics, wind energy, and strategic sectors.

Industry experts say that long-term access when it comes to processed rare earth materials is growing more crucial as worldwide demand for high-performance magnets keeps steadily increasing.

Wider geopolitical context

The increasing emphasis on critical minerals is part of a broader global concern regarding supply chain concentration as well as geopolitical risk. As China now controls much of the rare earth refining as well as magnet manufacturing ecosystem globally, many countries are searching for alternative sources and technology partners. As part of its long-term energy transition strategy, India has also been scouting for overseas lithium possibilities in South America and Africa.

Why it is important

Energy transition – Lithium and rare earths are vital for electric vehicles, batteries, and wind turbines, along with advanced electronics.

Industrial approach – Developing domestic processing capacity can help India move up the manufacturing value chain.

Supply-chain robustness – By diversifying sources and refining partnerships, reliance on centralised global supply networks is diminished.

Carbonatite intrusions are among the most intriguing geological events in global critical mineral exploration, focusing on a variety of strategic elements via complex magmatic processes in order to produce large-tonnage deposits with surprisingly uniform grade distribution.

These unusual igneous systems, which are derived from carbon-bearing magmas rising from the Earth’s mantle, happen to be natural concentrators of rare earth elements, strontium, niobium and related minerals which are of growing importance in uses in terms of modern technology.

It is well to be noted that Southern Africa is home to some of the most important carbonatite-hosted critical minerals systems in the world, and Kameelburg’s rare-earth exploration drilling has confirmed the outstanding potential of such geological formations. Recent drilling returned 354.2 metres of ongoing mineralisation from a single drill hole, demonstrating the impressive scale as well as consistency of well-developed carbonatite systems.

Geological Formation Mechanisms pertaining to REE-Niobium Deposits

Very specialised processes in the formation of carbonatite intrusions create perfect conditions for the concentration of critical minerals. These magmatic systems are formed by a rise of carbon-rich melts from the mantle and their interaction with crustal rocks, producing characteristic mineralogical assemblages consisting of high concentrations of rare earth elements, strontium, niobium and associated commodities.

Formation of carbonatite-hosted deposits includes multiple phases of magmatic evolution and mineralisation. Initial emplacement happens when carbonatitic melts intrude crustal rocks and form large-scale intrusive structures that may extend over several kilometres. These melts concentrate incompatible elements, such as rare earth elements, strontium and niobium, into different mineral phases during crystallisation.

Kameelburg’s geological study has shown that ancylite is the most common rare earth mineral – an attribute of carbonatite-hosted systems around the world. The mineral assemblage is typical of normal carbonatite genesis, with rare earth elements entering carbonate-rich phases during the magmatic crystallisation.

Magnetite-rich zones within the mineralised system reflect the complex interaction between carbonatitic melts and iron-bearing phases. The zones are prospective for multi-commodity extraction, as indicated by a 74-metre intersection of iron ore averaging 30% Fe within the broader mineralised system.

Carbonatite intrusion and mineralisation characteristics

Carbonatite systems exhibit unique mineralisation characteristics that vary from those of other deposit forms. The continuous 354.2-metre mineralised interval at Kameelburg is indicative of the large scale and consistent grade distribution characteristic of well-developed carbonatite deposits. This continuity is due to the even distribution of mineralising fluids during the emplacement of the carbonatite.

Crustal contamination is a key factor in the control of final grade distribution patterns in carbonatite systems. Carbonatitic melts may absorb surrounding rocks as they react to them, which may either improve or dilute the concentration of a specific commodity. This process produces the intricate zonation patterns typical of many carbonatite-hosted deposits.

The Strategic Mineral Endowment of the Damara Orogenic Belt

The Kameelburg project is located within the Damara Orogenic Belt, an important metallogenic province of the geological framework of southern Africa. This belt was formed during Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic orogenic events which provided favourable conditions for the emplacement of carbonatites and associated mineralisation.

Regional geological work has identified multiple carbonatite intrusions in the Damara Belt, indicating a belt-wide mineralising system with scope for further discovery. The recent critical minerals strategy of the Government of Australia highlights the significance of securing diverse sources of supply for these critical materials. The structural controls as well as magmatic processes which led to the formation of the Kameelburg deposit probably extended over larger regions inside this geological sphere.

South Korea is restructuring its relationship with Nigeria, moving from the traditional aid model to one of partnership.

The change comes at a time of a sharp fall in global development aid, forcing donor countries to reconsider how they engage.

Both countries are exploring expanded economic ties, especially when it comes to critical minerals as well as industrial development.

Officials assert transparency and institutional strength as well as shared accountability are key to future cooperation.

The shift was announced at a joint seminar of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, wherein the officials said that falling global aid was an essential component of the new approach.

Tak Namgung, Korea’s Chargé d’Affaires, reported at the event that the global Official Development Assistance fell to approximately $174 billion in 2025, which is a 23% drop and the biggest decline in recent years. Major donors are expected to cut spending, which could push down the bilateral aid to Sub-Saharan Africa by almost 28%.

Namgung said the traditional donor-recipient model is not anymore viable in the present economic climate.

He added that meaningful cooperation is now required to be based on shared understanding, solid institutions, and shared accountability.

He referenced South Korea’s own development path, observing that the country focused on creating robust systems, such as digital governance. However, he did acknowledge that there were early trade-offs with fast economic growth, particularly in areas like democratic governance as well as human rights.

Namgung said that economic growth along with human rights cannot be accomplished independently, warning that the two could as well go on to become destabilising factors for long-term stability if they are not harmonious.

Critical minerals sector of Nigeria and industry are key to Nigeria-Korea economic ties

The move comes as both countries work to deepen economic ties, especially in the critical minerals sector of Nigeria. South Korea imports over 95% of its critical mineral needs, whereas Nigeria has huge deposits of lithium, graphite and various other minerals which are critical for electric vehicles as well as clean energy technologies.

Namgung stressed that taking advantage of these opportunities will be more than just extracting resources.

He said that transparency, trust and solid institutions are essential to sustainable industrial development.

South Korean firms such as the likes of Daewoo Engineering & Construction have long been associated with Nigeria’s infrastructure projects. Additionally, technology companies like Samsung Electronics as well as LG Corporation are present in the country, aiding in industrial capacity along with workforce development.

Apparently, Seoul has also supported e-governance in Nigeria through the Korea International Cooperation Agency, which is again part of a wider push when it comes to institutional strengthening as aid flows diminish.

Funding $1.3bn for Zambia Rail Project will support the creation of an 830-kilometre link between Zambia’s north-western copper belt and the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola, an essential part of the Lobito Corridor. The route is intended to offer a quicker, more direct export route for critical minerals like copper and cobalt.

The sponsors of the project say the financing package involves $500 million each from the Africa Finance Corporation – AFC as well as the African Development Bank, with Italy putting in an additional $320 million.

When completed, the railway is expected to substantially decrease transport times for mineral exports from as much as 16 days to roughly seven days, minimising logistics costs and boosting the competitive edge of mining companies that operate in Zambia.

The project comes against a backdrop of increasing global demand when it comes to critical minerals utilised in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems as well as defence technologies. Analysts say that investment in infrastructure like the Lobito Corridor is becoming just as crucial as the minerals themselves, as nations and businesses seek safe and effective supply chains.

As per industry watchers, this is not just infrastructure, this is managing the flow of strategic resources. These industry watchers cite growing international rivalry over African mineral exports.

It is well to be noted that Zambia is the second-largest copper producer in Africa and has multiple large-scale mining projects underway or scheduled, putting it in an advantageous position to capitalise on growing demand. More production has led to an a greater need for efficient transport networks in order to bring minerals to global markets.

The railway is additionally anticipated to diversify export paths by decreasing dependence on longer, crowded corridors to ports on the eastern coast of Africa. The project will provide a direct link to the Atlantic and thus open up shortened shipping routes to Europe along with North America.

But the $1.3 billion pledge only covers an element of the railway’s projected $5 billion total cost, and more funding needs to be raised. Construction is due to start in 2026 itself and is scheduled to be completed by 2030.

The project will have to be financially viable with developers securing enough freight volumes from mining companies. Current commitments are close to one million tonnes a year, short of a projected demand of as much as three million tonnes.

The railway is, nonetheless, seen as a transforming investment that could cut transport costs, facilitate new mining projects, and encourage regional integration.

More broadly, the project is part of a wider trend in the mining sector in Africa, where infrastructure corridors are increasingly becoming essential drivers of economic growth as well as global competitiveness in the quest for energy transition minerals.

The Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project has US support by means of a USD 50 million equity investment from the International Development Finance Corporation of the government and is part of fast-tracked US efforts to cut dependence on economic rival China for the minerals needed to make electronic gadgets, robots, defence systems, and electric vehicles as well as other high-tech products.

Countries have designated dozens of minerals, such as copper, cobalt, and lithium as well as nickel, as critical because they are needed for new technologies. There are 17 rare earth elements. They are a subset of 17 rare earth elements.

Increasing access to critical minerals, including rare earth elements, has become a key Trump administration policy so as to counter China. The Trump administration announced in 2026 that it would use almost USD 12 billion so as to create its own strategic reserve.

Diplomatic rift will not derail the project

The DFC was established during the first Trump administration and invested in the Phalaborwa project in 2023 under former President Joe Biden.

The Trump administration has moved forward with the project, regardless of a major diplomatic rift with South Africa that started when Trump returned to office and went ahead and issued an executive order in February 2025 to stop any financial support to the country.

But the administration has demonstrated that some economic interests are more important. The DFC has promoted its work on the Phalaborwa project as part of a throttle to unlock the mineral potential of Africa while also advancing the US strategic interests.

It is well to be noted that Rainbow Rare Earths is developing the Phalaborwa project. The DFC investment is made via partner TechMet, which is a company that says it focuses on securing critical mineral supplies for the West. Apparently, the South African government has no ownership stake in the project.

George Bennett, CEO of Rainbow Rare Earths, told The Associated Press they hope to provide mostly to the US, saying its interest in the project was primarily to do with defence systems.

The company says it is targeting to tap rare earth elements including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium as well as others from its South African project. They are utilised in high-performance magnets when it comes to wind turbines, electric vehicles, and defence as well as emerging applications like robotics.

The Phalaborwa project is aiming to produce rare earths from the two giant dunes by 2028. The dunes are made up of 35 million tonnes of phosphogypsum, which happens to be a waste byproduct from mining and processing phosphate rock in order to make acid and fertiliser.

Rainbow Rare Earths said the project would have a 16-year lifespan. The DFC’s $50 million injection will be used only when Rainbow Rare Earths commences the construction of its processing plant in Phalaborwa, which is projected to be in early 2027.

Rare earths are actually pretty common, but they tend to be in low levels and are difficult to separate, so the mining process is costly.

According to the research manager at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Neha Mukherjee, the Phalaborwa project stands out due to its experimental above-ground mineral extraction process, however its potential is a mystery. It looks like a pretty low-cost asset as far as operational cost is concerned. Even the capital requirement is not that high, which is indeed a good sign.

The project matters because they do not have enough projects to meet the full demand outside of China, Mukherjee said.

The US is trying to catch up

Rainbow Rare Earths says the extraction of the mineral from the dunes will be almost 90% renewable energy and far cheaper than common rare earth mining.

Phalaborwa could as well be a low-cost producer like Chinese producers, said Bennett.

“They went ahead and crushed it and milled it, and they put energy and heat into it – all that to make the phosphogypsum, which is what is required to make rare earths,” said Alberto Bruttomesso, the project director with Rainbow Rare Earths, referring to the procedures that the waste had previously passed through. The heating is the most costly part of the process, and it is indeed the most expensive thing.

It is well to be noted that the Trump administration has also invested in critical mineral mining in the US and has been looking for deals to guarantee access to these minerals abroad, such as in Ukraine. Greenland’s rare earths are part of why Trump has sought to buy the Arctic island.

The Phalaborwa project is one of a number of mineral projects located in Africa that DFC has an investment in.

The US is indeed trying to catch up in terms of investment in mining across the African continent, where China has been a dominant player in mining, said a mining specialist with the Nordic Africa Institute in Sweden, Patience Mususa.

The US Trade and Development Agency executed a formal agreement in February 2026 so as to provide USD 1.8 million for a feasibility evaluation at the Monte Muambe rare earths project located in Mozambique.

In Africa, the Trump administration also continues to provide US financial support for the Lobito Corridor, which apparently is a Biden administration project so as to build an 800-mile, or a 1,290-kilometre, railway that connects the mineral-rich parts of Congo and Zambia to the Atlantic coast of Africa.

Countries are ramping up their efforts to secure minerals required to power high-speed processors and autonomous weapons systems as well as sensors, as the nature of war evolves from frontline warfare to AI-assisted, remote-controlled drone attacks. The green energy transition, aided by a spike in fossil fuel prices triggered by the war in Iran, has also pressured consumption of minerals utilised in the production of products like electric vehicles and batteries as well as solar panels.

Minerals have emerged as a weak spot in Washington’s trade war with Beijing, which dominates the mining and refining capacity when it comes to critical substances. Trump’s interest in Greenland was also partly due to the Danish territory’s enormous reserves of rare-earth minerals. Washington has also gained access to Ukraine’s and Venezuela’s deposits by means of coercive bargaining or military force.

But the rush for resources has sparked fears of possible environmental and social violations in the face of weak or absent national or international rules.

According to the co-founder and executive director of the Geneva Platform for Resilient Value Chains at the Geneva Graduate Institute, Peter Wooders, “A lot of the challenges in developing critical minerals remain the same as for any mineral. When you are looking to develop more copper, cobalt, lithium or whatever mined product, there will be long lead times, a long time to get your money back and high capital cost requirements.”

Countries that host the minerals will face other issues, he adds, weighing up economic advantages to the country by means of licences granted to developers, or by acquiring a share in the production, with social and environmental repercussions.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zénon Mukongo Ngay, recently went on to warn the UN Security Council that mineral trade has frequently fuelled violence. The UN said the need for critical minerals is projected to increase fourfold by 2040 from around $2.5 trillion in 2023.

Establishing standards

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe – UNECE is running its Resource Management Week at present, demonstrating tools and strategies that encourage sustainable practices and financial viability in mining thereby reiterating the need for efficiency as the UN body establishes tools. This is in advance of the G7 summit in Evian in June 2026, when mineral access as well as energy security are expected to be high on the agenda.

In a sector which is traditionally ambiguous, the UN Framework Classification for Resources – UNFC provides greater accountability and transparency for nations as well as other stakeholders in mining projects, said the director of the UNECE sustainable energy division, Dario Liguti, to Geneva Solutions.

It is well to be noted that UNFC is a tool for classifying and describing mineral resources. It uses a three-pronged approach when it comes to data collection in terms of geological reserves, economic and financial feasibility of projects, and social and environmental effects of projects.

The methodology lets countries and companies evaluate mineral projects so that policymakers, along with investors, can have a holistic perspective of each project to comprehend its features and what is required to be done to develop it, Liguti said.

According to the UN official,” UNFC is the only mining classification methodology -Ed. that takes into consideration not only economic and financial perspectives but also what its environmental and social impacts are and how we can mitigate those aspects.”

Use of tools

In particular, the European Union has embraced the homogenised approach in the Critical Raw Materials Act, that defines the region’s strategy in order to become more independent in its minerals supply chain, in accordance with the sustainable development goals of the UN and the Paris climate agreement.

The EU’s first call for mineral supply projects earlier in 2026 selected 60 initiatives, out of which 47 are in the EU and 13 happen to be outside, all classified according to the UNFC. The European Commission said accomplishing strategic project status would assist them by generating financial resources. Ukraine also embraced the UNFC and its norms, and the African Union is employing a UNFC derivation for the African context, says Liguti.

Australia’s vast reserves of key minerals, including the world’s second-largest lithium deposit as well as aluminium and manganese, were part of the latest trade deal signed between the EU and Canberra. This involves employing the UNFC through the European Critical Raw Minerals Act.

Furthermore, the UNECE has established voluntary standards, the UN Resource Management System – RMS, based on UNFC, to promote good governance when it comes to the ethical production and administration of mineral resources.

As per Liguti, “You have a classification methodology (in UNFC), and then (with RMS) you have a project management methodology to support the sustainable development of these resources.”

He notes that organisations listed on stock exchanges have additionally been adopting those approaches and standards. Both tools could also enable interested parties, such as local communities, to get involved in the development of mining projects.

Opportunity or mineral curse?

UNFC may be gaining momentum, but experts warn that mineral-rich nations remain at risk as the need for critical minerals increases.

If there is a country that has a critical mineral, it is essential to be really careful when it thinks through what the pros and cons of exploiting that resource are, Wooders warns.

He cites Indonesia as an example which banned exports of nickel ore in a bid to broaden its economy but suffered severe environmental consequences as it established its processing industry. Now the country is the world’s biggest producer of the metal that is used in wind turbines and solar panels as well as electric vehicles.

The laws and regulations in this domain were never adequate or strong, and there always existed a significant execution gap, says environment director with Human Rights Watch, Richard Pearshouse. This relatively fragile system is now under unimaginable stress from this rush for critical minerals.

He also says environmental, social and governance promises are being diluted and that government rules, such as the EU corporate sustainability due diligence directive, are also being diluted.

Pearhouse claims that enforceable regulations are needed to guarantee that affected populations are able to take part in project development in order to avoid social and environmental harm. Wooders says that as interest rises, nations with critical minerals are in a stronger bargaining position. They should be able to bargain for more favourable deals than what they might get for non-critical minerals, including a variety of other advantages.