Critical Minerals for a Just Clean Energy Transition in MENA

Date: 10 October 2023

Time: 9:00 - 10:30 AST

Location: Zone 8, Theater 1, Boulevard Riyadh City

This is a Middle East and North Africa Climate Week 2023 Action Track event. Live streaming available.

Description:

Clean energy technologies including renewables depend on the availability and steady flow of critical energy transition minerals. These minerals – such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt – are essential components in many of today’s rapidly growing clean energy technologies.

Critical materials have therefore emerged as an important topic in the energy transition and a better understanding of the market dynamics is becoming a priority. Several countries in the MENA region are well endowed with renewable energy resources and there is significant potential for the adoption of clean energy technologies. While countries in MENA may not be the largest producers of critical minerals, there is potential that further exploration could identify significant reserves in the region. 

MENA countries need to take a comprehensive approach to address the environmental challenges by fostering innovation and R&D in alternative Critical minerals and promoting recycling, recovery, and resource conservation, thus reducing their dependence on overseas supplies.

This session aims to:

• Discuss the role of critical minerals in diversifying MENA countries in the energy transition.
• Showcase the role that the region can play in clean technology value chains and how they can strengthen that position.
• Discuss opportunities for regional and international collaboration.
• Discuss environmental, social and economic trends, opportunities and challenges for the MENA region from the expected increase in global demand for energy transition minerals.