PARIS (AFP) – The market for the minerals key to the clean energy transition soared to USD320 billion last year but faces challenges including volatile prices, supply chain snarls and geopolitical tensions, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said yesterday.
The market for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper doubled between 2017 and 2022, fuelled by the record deployment of clean technologies such as solar panels and electric car batteries, according to the IEA.
“Rapid growth in demand is providing new opportunities for the industry,” the Paris-based agency said in its first annual IEA Critical Minerals Market Review.
“But a combination of volatile price movements, supply chain bottlenecks and geopolitical concerns has created a potent mix of risks for secure and rapid energy transitions,” it added.
The IEA, which advises developed nations on energy policies, said the “affordability and speed of energy transitions” will depend on the availability of critical mineral supplies.
Prices rose in 2021 and early 2022 as the COVID-19 pandemic caused bottlenecks across supply chains and the war in Ukraine wreaked havoc in commodity markets.
Most prices began to moderate in the latter half of 2022 and into 2023, but they remain well above historical averages, the IEA said.
“As things stand, 2023 could be a crucial year for clean energy technology prices,” the report said.
