29th Parliamentary-Intelligence Security Forum – Energy Security & Critical Minerals

Mr. J.C. Boggs, partner at King & Spalding, discussed the critical intersection of human rights, national security, and supply chain dependence in the global critical minerals market. Drawing on his experience with election integrity and international development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), he highlighted the human cost of mineral extraction: the DRC’s Katanga province supplies 75-85% of the world’s cobalt, yet 25,000- 40,000 children work in artisanal mines under dangerous conditions, often suffering severe health consequences.

He emphasized the strategic importance of critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, nickel, and copper, which are essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, drones, missiles, and other defense applications. While China produces only about 10% of these minerals, it controls 70-90% of global processing and refining capacity, leveraging this dominance to manipulate prices, restrict exports, and strengthen its geopolitical influence. He cited historical examples, such as China’s 2010 rare earth export restrictions against Japan, to show how supply chain control can be weaponized.

Mr. Boggs also noted domestic and allied responses. In the U.S., executive orders from both the Trump and Biden administrations have sought to boost domestic production, fast-track permitting, and incentivize private investment. The Defense Production Act allows strategic investments and partnerships with allies, including Canada, the UK, and Australia. Bilateral agreements, such as with Japan, and investment by the U.S. Development Finance Corporation in Brazil, are part of broader efforts to diversify supply chains and reduce dependency on adversarial nations.

He concluded that ensuring control over the entire critical mineral supply chain from exploration and production to processing and manufacturing is vital for both economic security and national defense. This requires cooperation with trusted partners and the adoption of new, cleaner processing technologies to maintain competitiveness and safeguard strategic resources.