The global race for critical minerals is enabled. This is why they are the driving force of the new technology era

What does your smartphone have to do with the solar panel, EV battery or military equipment? They are all made using critical minerals – the necessary power component of modern technology, from which we use each day.

“They are absolutely a central thing for what I call electro-digit age,” said Vince Beiser, author Power Metal: Race for resources that will shape the futureIn an interview with CBC The Current.

“This era we move into will be defined by electricity and digital technology generated by renewable.

Some trading experts call critical minerals “Bedrock” The new era of technological progress – just like the invention of a steam engine during the first industrial revolution, has dramatically changed the world, the supply of boats, trains and factory machines.

The point is that these elements are considered important for switching to green energy and digital technology or that they perform some military function, explained Elizabeth Steyn, a professor of law at the University of Calgary, who studies critical minerals.

CBC explains what critical minerals are and why there is a global race for control over these valuable resources.

What critical minerals does Canada have?

“Historically, Canada was really the most important goal of mining companies and seekers in the world,” said Jacob Lorinc, a mining reporter at Bloomberg, in an interview with the Burner CBC.

Canada has 34 critical minerals and metals his list (Some countries call them “strategic minerals”). There are mines, refineries and projects devoted to these minerals in every Canadian province and territory in addition to Pei

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To get to the list, the mineral supply chain must be threatened and must have a “reasonable opportunity” to produce in Canada. It must also meet one of the following criteria:

• This is necessary for the economic or national security of Canada.

• This is required to go to “a sustainable economy with low carbon and digital content”.

• It helps Canada put itself as a “strategic partner” in a global supply chain.

It should also be noted that on a wider Canada list there is a 17 metal package called “Rare Earth earth minerals” – or lantans, which are highly toxic and radioactive.

“Rare lands are a good example of how critical minerals are not necessarily rare, but they can be rare,” said Steyn. While lanthanowce is throughout the earth's skin, “they are in such small quantities that it is very difficult to find a place where we can actually bring them out in a commercial way.”

Challenge related to extraction in Canada

Canada is one of such places where mining small minerals is feasible in trade.

But some experts say that this country has not used a fully rich landscape minerals for many reasons.

“These minerals are everywhere, but we were not necessarily very good at extracting it in recent years,” Lorinc said, noting that there are several reasons.

“Sudbury was really a global behemot for the production of nickel, and then we dug up the whole nickel there. I mean that there is still some left, but not as it used to be, “he explained.

Other deposits – like the fire ring in northern Ontario – are located in distant areas where it is difficult to develop and build mining infrastructure.

Some indigenous communities are worried that these mining events will lead to water pollution or have other harmful environmental effects to Earth.

“It is absolutely important that we can do it with native leadership at the table,” said JP Glad, director and founder of the Mokwateh consulting company as well as the former president and general director of Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

“We recognized the importance of strong relations with the indigenous people as owners of rights in this country,” he said, adding that the development of Greenfield and Brownfield – this is the first importance of undeveloped land, the second significance previously developed – “will require the consent of the first nations.”

“Countries that can control this space will certainly be in a stronger position on the international arena,” said Glad.

One example: the Canadian list of critical minerals has been updated last year to cover the silicone metal, which is used to create semiconductor chips, which in turn are Used by the world's largest power for power Artificial intelligence. It gives you a feeling of how valuable these minerals are for the digital era.

“We have an amazing role to play in all these sectors,” he added. “But we certainly fight as a nation to be competitive in space.”

Why geopolitical implications?

The US and China are fighting for global technological supremacy, each of which is fighting for the latest technology and resources used for this. China has the advantage of being a mining nation – but maybe, more importantly, they are a world leader in the processing of raw minerals from other countries.

The United States was the most important mining force, but in the 70s and 80s, “they basically tired of all environmental damage that appeared with this” – explained Beiser, the author. “Mining is very destructive. It generates a lot of pollution and so on. “

“China, who was just opening their economy at that time, said well, we will do it. We are pleased to dig these things on our land and build refineries here in China. And they were also very expected, “he said.

Now China is using their powerful position, limiting the export of minerals to the USA, and the US is trying to reduce dependence on the opponent.

That is why Trump showed interest in the annexation of minerals rich in minerals, such as Canada and Greenland. That is why the US and Ukraine negotiate a contract so that Ukraine provides the USA with access to minerals in exchange for military help. Ukraine consists in a contract for financing post -war revival.

“Critical minerals are a matter of national security for the US,” said Steyn. “I don't think this is the reason for the alarm, but we should be what we should be aware of.”