The next productivity revolution 

Supply chains, critical minerals, circularity, and skills for sustainable energy transitions 

The shift toward more and better energy is not just a technological revolution, it is fundamentally a productivity revolution with deep implications for the way we live and work. There will be a reshaping of how we source, use, and deploy the materials that power our economies. Competitiveness could be enhanced in the process. As the world accelerates towards lower emissions, the spotlight is on the foundational elements that will determine the pace and resilience of energy transitions: critical minerals, robust supply chains, and the adoption of circular and shared economic models. 

As we look ahead to World Energy Congress 2026 in Riyadh next October, convening leadership dialogues around these elements is essential to ensure that the race towards a bigger and better energy future continues uninterrupted, without losing sight of the people at the heart of energy transitions. World Energy Congress is known for its ability to bring together the full spectrum of energy interests under one roof, convening digital and mining leaders alongside more familiar energy faces to fast-track solutions that will serve whole energy systems.   

Critical minerals: the foundation of clean energy technologies 

Many of the technologies at the heart of energy transitions – solar panels, wind turbines, batteries for electric vehicles, and advanced grid systems – as well as everyday devices for a digital future like smartphones, rely on a suite of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements.  

It comes as no surprise that demand for these minerals is soaring. For example, electric vehicles require up to six times more mineral inputs than fossil fuel-powered vehicles, and an onshore wind plant requires nine times more mineral resources such as copper than a gas-fired plant. 

However, the supply of these minerals is increasingly vulnerable to a range of risks: 

• Geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions can threaten access to essential materials 

• Market concentration means that a handful of countries dominate the production and processing of many critical minerals, raising concerns about supply security and price volatility 

• Environmental and social impacts from mining – including water depletion, land-use change, and impacts on local communities – must be addressed to ensure just transitions 

Copper, for example, is foundational for solar, wind, electric vehicles, batteries, power grids, and digital infrastructure, but the steep increase in demand is colliding with slow mine development and limited new discoveries with a resulting deficit projected to reach 40% or more by 2035. Combined with highly geographically concentrated reserves, adding geopolitical and supply chain risks, the very real potential risks to the pace and scale of decarbonisation, electrification, and clean energy transitions become clear, leaving vulnerabilities for energy systems worldwide. 

Supply chains: resilience, sustainability, and integration 

Modern energy supply chains span much wider than mining alone. From raw material extraction to processing, component manufacturing, assembly and energy distribution and end use, these interconnected networks are vital for enabling the flow of energy resources and finished products worldwide. The resilience of energy supply chains is increasingly exposed to external shocks – pandemics, geopolitical instability, cyber risks, climate disasters, and trade policy changes – which can trigger shortages, delays, and price increases for key technologies. 

Resilient supply chains depend on several levers: 

• Diversification of suppliers and manufacturing capacities across geographies to reduce dependencies. 

• Localising production where possible, to limit vulnerability to global disruptions. 

• Circular practices to ease environmental impacts and strengthen resilience by reducing exposure to fluctuating markets and supply shortages. 

• Transparency and data-sharing enabling  risk monitoring and ethical sourcing. 

Circular economy: GHG management, digital solutions, and reducing pressure on primary supply 

 A circular approach  focused on recycling, reusing, and repurposing  can significantly reduce the need for new development to power energy transitions. For critical minerals, for example, reports indicate that scaling up recycling could cut the need for new mine development by 25-40% for key minerals like copper, cobalt, lithium, and nickel by 2050. However, current recycling rates for many energy transition metals, technologies and assets remain low, and collection and processing infrastructure must be expanded to capture the full potential of circularity. 

Thankfully, digital solutions across supply chains are enabling mining companies and manufacturers to improve efficiency and reduce emissions and subsequent environmental impact, through: 

• Real-time emissions monitoring and analytics for continuous improvement. 

• Supply chain traceability to ensure compliance and transparency. 

• Decentralised platforms that facilitate smart logistics and inventory management, optimising energy use and minimising waste. 

Skills and workforce transformation 

This productivity revolution also demands a transformation in skills. As supply chains diversify and new technologies emerge, continual upskilling, retraining, and talent development are essential. This includes: 

• Investing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and vocational training for future energy jobs 

• Supporting workforce transitions in regions dependent on legacy industries 

• Promoting inclusivity and supporting diverse communities for equitable opportunity 

Spotlight on Saudi Arabia 

The mining strategy of Saudi Arabia – host of World Energy Congress 2026 – can be seen as a model for future-proofing and building resilience. A core component of Vision 2030, mining is a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s economic diversification effort and backed by substantial investment in exploration, both financially as well as through regulatory overhaul and with a surge in exploration licenses. A sizable focus of these efforts is on critical minerals essential for energy transitions, while actively building downstream processing capacity and forging global partnerships for supply chain resilience. 

This strategy is significant for Saudi energy transitions  - and can provide a blueprint for other countries - because it supports the production and deployment of clean energy solutions, reduces dependency on hydrocarbons, and positions the country as a major player in meeting global demand for minerals vital to the shift towards low-carbon technologies. 

The importance of convening leadership dialogues 

The scale and complexity of the next productivity revolution demand leadership collaboration across governments, industry, and civil society. As the only global event bridging the full energy ecosystem, World Energy Congress 2026 will provide the platform for these critical discussions, bolstered the World Energy Council’s active member communities who represent each the geographies central to the supply of critical minerals essential for energy transitions, including Australia (lithium, nickel), Chile (copper, lithium), the Democratic Republic of Congo (cobalt), Indonesia (nickel), and South Africa (platinum group metals), as well as China, which is especially dominant in both reserves and global processing, controlling over 60% of rare earths and battery-grade graphite, and refining much of the world’s cobalt and nickel. These countries form the backbone of mineral supply for batteries, renewables, and grid technologies supporting global energy transitions.  
 
The dialogues taking place at World Energy Congress 2026 will be essential to: 

• Share best practices for responsible sourcing, circularity, and supply chain resilience 

• Mobilise investment and innovation to close supply chain gaps and scale up recycling 

• Harmonise standards and reporting frameworks for ESG compliance and traceability 

The next productivity revolution is about more than just technology; it’s enhancing the quality and industrial competitiveness of the sustainable economy. World Energy Congress is the only platform convening leadership dialogues that foster the cross-sector collaboration needed to tackle supply chain vulnerabilities, mainstream circularity, and empower the workforce for the challenges ahead. Only through coordinated action can energy transitions be accelerated and a sustainable, competitive future secured for all.