ABSTRACT
As a clean energy system begins to be implemented worldwide, the demand for critical minerals is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades. Thus, demonstrating how mineral collaboration benefits the economy is key to building long-term supply resilience and keeping the global energy transition on track. In this work, we utilize a gap analysis of supply and demand and find that both China and the GCC are facing challenges in ensuring the mineral supply that is necessary to support future development. Because of growing efforts to develop investor-focused legislation and regulatory frameworks and expand international collaboration, the influence of the GCC over critical minerals has grown. Although China will continue to be a significant player in global mineral supply chains, its strategy has shifted toward a more balanced approach to domestic capacity development and overseas market participation. Both the GCC and China can benefit from technology development and knowledge sharing for mineral resource exploration and production. Moreover, the coordination of financial and technical resources and the stimulation of supportive trade and investment regimes for mineral exploration, extraction, processing, and downstream production in the African, Western, and Central Asian regions can create long-term strategic value for both sides.
