First ever IEA Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Summit to take place on 28 September

The International Energy Agency will host the first ever international summit on critical minerals and their role in clean energy transitions on 28 September 2023 in Paris, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol announced today.

The IEA Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Summit will focus on measures to promote the secure, sustainable and responsible supply of raw materials that have a central role in clean energy transitions around the world. The Summit will convene ministers from countries in the IEA family and beyond – including both large mineral producers and consumers – as well as business leaders, investors, heads of international organisations and civil society representatives.

Among those who have already confirmed their participation or indicated they plan to attend are ministers from Belgium, Canada, Chile, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Morocco and Poland; the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy and the European Commissioner for the Internal Market; and the CEOs of BHP, Glencore, London Metal Exchange and Umicore. Participants will share their experiences, identify challenges around critical mineral supplies, and discuss an effective course of action to ensure rapid and secure energy transitions.

“As the world’s energy authority, the IEA is taking the lead responsibility on secure and sustainable supplies of critical minerals. Managing these resources effectively is essential to ensure energy and climate goals translate into tangible action and clean energy projects on the ground,” Dr Birol said. “We see an urgent need to bring together governments, industry, investors and other stakeholders to collectively address questions that will have a profound impact on the future of energy security and global efforts to reach net zero emissions.”

The convening of the IEA Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Summit comes after the IEA was given a Ministerial mandate by its member governments last year to deepen its work on critical minerals. Building on the analysis of its landmark report The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions, the Agency has launched new work streams to improve the transparency and security of critical minerals supplies. The IEA was also recently asked by G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers to provide support on critical minerals.