OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains: Spotlight on Critical Minerals

This opening session as part of the 2022 Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains highlighted the growing importance of critical and energy transition minerals to policymakers and the implications of this development for strengthening responsible mineral supply chains. With much ongoing debate in policymaking circles on this topic, high-level participants in the session spoke to somewhat different priorities. High-level interventions were sought from mineral-consuming countries and jurisdictions that have recently established critical minerals policies and strategies, emerging critical minerals powerhouses like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and relevant international organisations.

Hear NRGI's Alexandra Gillies deliver comments beginning at 1:20:40.
 

Through the organization of the session, the OECD sought to elevate several dimensions of the issue that will influence the responsible trade in minerals. These included the ways in which critical minerals policy can leverage the mutually reinforcing link between security of supply and responsible engagement of high-risk areas (including artisanal and small-scale mining), as well as the burgeoning coordination between different countries on critical minerals policy. These focus areas are intended to promote interest in critical minerals as an impetus for expanding the use of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance as the global benchmark and avoid responsible sourcing being deprioritized amid the scramble to secure control of these resources.

This event featured NRGI advisor Alexandra Gillies, IEA director Fatih Birol, EITI Mark Robinson, OECD Secretary General and several other experts (see the OECD event page for full list).