Who controls critical minerals? - L’Éco du monde #12

Published on April 2, 2026

Lithium, cobalt, rare earths… All these minerals, essential to the energy transition, are at the heart of new geopolitical tensions. Their production is concentrated, demand is surging, and the question of their control is becoming a strategic issue: Which countries produce these minerals? Who controls the extracting companies? What are the implications for developing countries? How is Europe positioning itself and what role for AFD? Senior economist Étienne Espagne unpacks all these issues in this new episode of L’Éco du monde, hosted by AFD's Chief Economist Thomas Melonio.

English subtitles are available in the player settings.

Hosted by AFD’s Chief Economist, the video series “L’Éco du monde” explores the major challenges of development alongside researchers and practitioners. Its aim is to understand today’s world and inform the decisions of tomorrow, on topics such as development finance, international economic dynamics, the ecological transition and inequalities. All episodes are available on AFD’s YouTube channel.