# Critical Minerals — Lithium, Cobalt, Copper and Clean Energy Supply Chain

**URL:** https://thecodex.expert/energy/minerals/
**Session:** 28 | **Date:** 2026-05-05

## Summary

Critical minerals for clean energy transition. Lithium: Salar de Atacama Chile (23.30S 68.18W, ~55% world production, SQM+Albemarle), Salar de Uyuni Bolivia (20.14S 67.49W, ~21 MT world's largest resource), Greenbushes Australia (33.86S 115.97E, Talison, world's largest hard rock). Price: $80,000/t peak 2022 → ~$15,000 2024. Cobalt: ~70% DRC (Tenke Fungurume 10.61S 26.10E, Mutanda 10.54S 25.75E). Child labour in ASM documented (Amnesty). LFP batteries eliminate cobalt. Nickel: Indonesia Morowali (2.53S 121.63E, HPAL). Norilsk Russia (69.34N 88.21E). Rare earths: Bayan Obo China (41.77N 110.12E), 85% processing in China. MP Materials Mountain Pass USA (35.46N 115.53W). Copper: Escondida Chile (24.25S 69.07W, BHP, 1.2 MT/yr world's largest). World needs 3× more copper by 2040. China processes ~60% Li, ~70% Co, ~85% REE. Recycling can meet 40% Li demand by 2040 (IEA). Sources: IEA Critical Minerals 2024, USGS Mineral Summaries 2024, BGS.