logo
episode-header-image
May 2025
17m 29s

Critical minerals: The global race is on

Bbc World Service
About this episode

They’re essential to the green transition, modern tech, and defence systems—and global demand is soaring.

In the first part of our series on critical minerals, we ask what they are, where they're found and why they matter?

As countries scramble to secure supplies, we explore the rising geopolitical tensions shaping this fast-growing industry—including the Oval Office standoff between Presidents Trump and Zelensky over a landmark minerals deal.

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Lexy O’Connor

(Image: Hands holding rock samples of critical minerals)

Up next
Oct 9
Business Daily meets: Fani Titi, Investec CEO
The South African grew up under the racist apartheid system as one of 14 children. He looked set for a life in farming, until a chance event took him down a different path – ultimately becoming CEO of the multinational banking group, Investec. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: El ... Show More
17m 27s
Oct 8
Small country: Big tariffs
We head to Switzerland, a small but very successful country with a population of just 9 million.And now coping with some of US President Donald Trump’s highest tariffs. In August the original threat of 31% tariffs was raised to 39%. Two months on, efforts to negotiate with Washin ... Show More
17m 30s
Oct 7
Should we expect more airline delays?
Passengers are suffering more disruption as technology at airports, airlines and air traffic control is failing.But why is aviation software becoming more prone to failure and vulnerable to cyber-attacks, and what is the solution to preventing delays?Presented and produced by Rus ... Show More
17m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2025
205. Trump's Ukraine minerals deal and China
A potential US-Ukraine critical minerals agreement is only the latest effort to address security concerns over US sourcing of critical minerals from China. America’s previous top diplomat for critical minerals, Geoff Pyatt (former Assistant Secretary of State, former US ambassado ... Show More
33m 48s
Oct 2024
The minerals tech can't do without
Does the tech you use depend too much on a few critical minerals ? When a hurricane temporarily disrupted mining in the small town of Spruce Pine, the tech world was concerned. We find out why the location, in North Carolina, USA, is so important, and discover where a range of ra ... Show More
26m 29s
Mar 2025
173. The politization of Critical Materials - Mar25
The XXIst century economy will be powered by 'critical minerals' such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths. China has spent the past 20 years building a dominant position across the supply chain for these metals.The rest of the world is finally waking up to the economic an ... Show More
33m 28s
Jul 2024
The fight over minerals for green energy — and a better way forward | Saleem Ali
To transition to clean energy and green technology like electric cars, the world needs massive amounts of essential minerals. Environmental peacemaker Saleem Ali explains the conflicts already arising between countries rushing to mine and extract these precious minerals — and sho ... Show More
12m 26s
Nov 2024
Minimizing Damage as Mining for Critical Minerals Ramps Up
The clean energy transition has a dirty underside. To move away from fossil fuels and toward solar, wind, batteries, and other alternative sources of energy, we have to intensify mining operations for critical minerals like lithium, copper, and cobalt. According to a Global Witne ... Show More
48m 1s
Nov 2024
How to find customers in the Dept of Defense: From prototype to the Pentagon | Steve Blank (Hacking for Defense)
Steve Blank is an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University, where he co-created the "Hacking for Defense" curriculum for the Department of Defense. As a consultant to top defense and intelligence organizations, Steve brings cutting-edge strategies to the national security sector. ... Show More
34m 8s
Feb 2025
Why Trump wants Ukraine’s minerals
The US and Russia have agreed to ‘lay the groundwork for future co-operation’ on ending the Ukraine war, and US president Donald Trump has his eyes on Ukrainian mineral deposits. Plus, developers of small modular nuclear reactors have raised at least $1.5bn in funding over the pa ... Show More
10m 43s
Feb 2025
Trump Proposes US Iron Dome, California Secession Bid Proceeds, and Asteroid Carries Seeds of Life
We're experimenting and would love to hear from you!In this episode of 'Discover Daily', we begin with the technical and financial implications of Trump's Iron Dome executive order, which mandates Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deliver an implementation plan ... Show More
9m 44s
Jan 2025
Western Alaska Minerals to Focus on High-Grade Silver Exploration at Waterpump Creek
Kit Marrs, CEO of Western Alaska Minerals, discusses the company's drilling strategy for the Illinois Creek project this year, the importance of clear market messaging regarding silver and gold resources, and the evolving political landscape in the U.S. that may impact resource d ... Show More
13m 22s
Sep 9
Nuclearn gets $10.5M to help the nuclear industry embrace AI, plus ReOrbit lands record funding to take on Musk’s Starlink from Europe
Nuclearn got its start when the founders were working at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station just west of Phoenix. They had been experimenting with ways to streamline various repetitive tasks first from a data science perspective then with more advanced AI models. Also, ReO ... Show More
8m 13s