Critical Minerals
Argentina signs strategic agreement with US on critical minerals
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Argentina and the United States signed an agreement in Washington D.C. to boost the supply and processing of critical minerals, vital for new technologies. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and his counterpart Marco Rubio took part in the signing at the Ministerial Meeting on Critical Minerals on February 4, 2026.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have disrupted energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz in March 2026, spiking oil and LNG prices and affecting Indonesia. The country relies on imported fossil fuels but holds opportunities from critical mineral reserves. Experts recommend accelerating electric vehicle adoption and leveraging natural resources.
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On January 28, 2026, China's Zijin Mining announced a US$4 billion takeover of Allied Gold's three African mines. On February 3, Swiss mining giant Glencore entered talks to sell a 40 per cent stake in its Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) copper and cobalt operations to the US-backed Orion Critical Mineral Consortium. These developments underscore the escalating competition between China and the United States over critical minerals.
As climate change intensifies, mining emerges as both a historical culprit and a key solution in the global push for net zero emissions by 2050. Critical minerals like copper, cobalt, and lithium are in high demand for renewable energy technologies, but supply challenges loom large. Experts highlight the irony of the industry's pivot from fossil fuels to green metals.