Navigating supply chain volatility, geopolitical risk, and critical mineral access in the global race toward clean energy.
The global investment landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, shaped by two converging forces: the rapid acceleration of the energy transition and a renewed wave of economic protectionism. As industrial policy shifts to prioritise strategic autonomy, capital flows are being redirected toward assets that offer resilience in an increasingly fragmented world.
In 2025, the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump brought renewed emphasis on tariff-led industrial strategy. A new round of duties on Chinese imports informally dubbed the “Liberation Day” tariffs sparked market volatility and reshaped trade flows. This has accelerated a broader rethinking of global supply chains, particularly in sectors critical to energy and technological innovation.
At the centre of this transformation is the demand for critical minerals. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements are fundamental to clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels, and battery storage systems. However, supply chains for these minerals remain heavily centralised, with China maintaining a dominant role in refining and processing.
In response, both public and private sectors are taking active steps to diversify sourcing and secure long-term access. Countries across Africa, Latin America, and Australia are seeing renewed interest from strategic investors seeking to develop alternative supply hubs. According to a recent Atlantic Council report, African mineral assets are becoming a focal point for policymakers aiming to build more secure and diversified critical materials strategies.
Institutional investors are adapting to this new reality by prioritising assets that offer geopolitical resilience. There is a growing shift toward funding upstream mining projects, regional processing facilities, and domestic manufacturing infrastructure aligned with national policy objectives.
Natural resources executive Ian Timis, who has over 25 years of experience in mining and energy markets across four continents, observes that the convergence of mineral security, industrial policy, and geopolitical risk is fundamentally altering how long-term capital is deployed. He notes that “supply chain resilience and regional agility are becoming as critical as project economics in today’s environment.”
Ian Timis previously served as Vice President of European Goldfields Ltd., a TSX Venture Exchange-listed gold exploration company. In 2012, the company was acquired by Eldorado Gold Limited in a transaction valued at USD 2.4 billion. His recent advisory work includes engagements with institutional investors and government agencies on strategies related to mineral sourcing, automation, and critical infrastructure planning.
Governments in Europe and North America are now embedding mineral independence into national strategy. This includes legislation to fast-track permitting, de-risk investment in critical minerals, and restrict foreign control over domestic mining operations. As The Regulatory Review has highlighted, the West is actively reassessing the risks of concentrated supply chains.
Parallel to this, state-backed investment vehicles have emerged to support domestic producers and build strategic stockpiles. In the private sector, capital is flowing into vertically integrated ventures that combine exploration, refining, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
Timis notes that “industrial competitiveness over the next decade will depend on a nation’s ability to secure and process the materials that power the energy transition.” His view reflects a broader trend among resource investors: favouring jurisdictions that combine political stability, regulatory transparency, and long-term demand fundamentals.
The interplay between protectionist trade policy and the clean energy transition is reshaping the investment landscape. In this new era, investors are not only analysing asset performance but also the geopolitical conditions surrounding resource access and infrastructure reliability.
Companies with diversified sourcing strategies, technological agility, and strong government relationships are likely to lead the next wave of growth in the energy and industrial sectors. As global trade becomes more politicised, critical minerals, industrial policy, and innovation capacity will become key determinants of both national and corporate competitiveness.
The strategic realignment now underway is not a temporary shift it is a structural evolution. Investors and policymakers alike will need to adapt to a world where natural resources are not just economic inputs, but tools of diplomacy, leverage, and security.
