Beyond Raw Exports: Leveraging the Energy Transition for Mineral Value Addition in Producer Countries

This one-hour webinar, part of London Climate Action Week 2025, explored how mineral-rich countries are developing policies to move beyond raw material exports and capturing greater domestic value through processing, refining, and manufacturing, in light of rising global demand for transition minerals. The UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals has also identified domestic value addition and equitable benefit sharing as key principles for a just energy transition.

The webinar explored the strategic rationale behind these policy initiatives, the economic and policy conditions countries face, and the global dynamics, including trade rules and the international policy landscape, that can impact room for country action in this area. 

"Nickel rich local government need to improve how they allocate spending from resource revenue. They should invest the money in expanding productive sectors, compensating affected sectors and also communities, and also preparing for a future post nickel transition." - Dr. Alin Halimatussadiah

The discussion surfaced what is feasible, sustainable and equitable in the current global context. Addressing inequities in global value chains is crucial for sustainable development in low and middle-income countries, and to avoid mineral supply disruptions and support global cooperation on the climate crisis.

"The [Ghanaian] government should be transparent and involve citizens in decision making around every step of the lithium value addition chain in order to build trust. We think that the government can improve the investment environment and therefore the prospects of lithium value addition in the longer term." - Denis Gyeyir

Speakers

• Dr. Alin Halimatussadiah, Lecturer, Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM), Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia
• Denis Gyeyir, Africa Senior Program Officer, (Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)
• Lorenzo Cotula, Principal Researcher and Head, Law, Economies and Justice Program, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
• Will Davis, Economic Advisor, Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF)

Moderator: Audrey Gaughran, Executive Director, SOMO

This event was part of London Climate Action Week 2025. To learn more about NRGI’s activities and events during London Climate Action Week, visit our dedicated page.