From Minerals to Megawatts 2025

Sustainability and licence- to-operate Mining and refining: Permitting remains slow and uncertain – a mine can take 18 years or more to commission,47 and often take up to a decade for approvals. Rising environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and local opposition can delay projects well before construction begins. Recycling is expanding but still lacks transparency and assurance mechanisms. Component manufacturing and end products: End-product manufacturers face scrutiny over life- cycle emissions, recyclability and conflict minerals, while grid developers confront land-use constraints and community opposition. Technology Mining and refining: Technology cycles are moving faster than new supply chains can adjust. Producers struggle to bet on the “next chemistry” without risking stranded assets, while recycling remains limited by collection and mechanical separation bottlenecks.Component manufacturing and end products: Battery chemistries and semiconductor designs evolve faster than capacity can respond, creating mismatches between innovation cycles and supply resilience. Labour and skills Mining and refining: Shortage of skilled engineers and project specialists increases delays in mine development and processing. Component manufacturing and end products: EV and grid manufacturers report high demand for chemists, battery engineers and HV technicians, while data-centre developers face digital-skills gaps, especially in AI-related operations. Today’s risks foreshadow a future where chokepoints and fragmented dialogue could limit growth unless coordination improves. Without shared risk awareness, actors work in silos, leaving systemic vulnerabilities unaddressed. The remedy is shared visibility, faster qualification and coordinated commitments. From Minerals to Megawatts: Building Resilience for EVs, Data Centres and Power Grids 27