Critical Minerals

Critical minerals matter so much right now because almost everything new depends on them.

Clean energy, EVs, AI chips, data centers, batteries, and modern weapons all need special metals like lithium, copper, nickel, and rare earths. Past technology used only small amounts. But all modern technology need them and a lot of them. One EV needs about 6x more minerals than a normal car. AI and data centers also need huge power grids, which means massive copper demand.

The problem is that supply cannot move fast. Mining is slow and hard. From finding a deposit to producing metal can take 10 to 15 years. You need permits, infrastructure, skilled workers, and political approval. You cannot just flip a switch and get more supply. So when demand spikes quickly, supply simply cannot keep up.

Concentration is another huge issue. For many critical minerals, China controls a large part of mining, processing, or refining. Even when minerals are mined in other countries, they often get processed in China. The US now see this as a security risk, not just a business problem. Countries want their own supply chains, so they rush to secure materials. The result is stockpiling and intense competition for supply.

That is why critical minerals are so important right now and why prices are skyrocketing.