By Swara Maruvada    5/16/25

     The mining industry is a cornerstone of global economic development. However, the pursuit of profits often contradicts societal and sustainability causes. The industry generated a record of 943 billion U.S dollars in 2022, and employs 609.9 thousand people as of 2023, (Garside, 2024). Despite these contributions, the mining sector faces scrutiny over labor rights violations and environmental degradation. 

     To further understand the many aspects of this crisis, I conducted a full interview with Dr. Roderick Eggert, a Mineral Economics professor at the Colorado School of Mines. It soon became clear to me that approaching this problem requires a strategic economic framework that considers new technology, the environmental cause, and worker protections. As the extraction of minerals becomes increasingly burdensome, it is crucial that our government cooperate with global mining corporations to begin implementing legislation and economic frameworks that fulfill crucial societal and environmental objectives.  

     Geopolitical risks are often underestimated in the mining sector, yet they significantly influence the stability and sustainability of mineral supply chains. For politically unstable nations, such as The Democratic Republic of Congo, these risks can lead to detrimental consequences. This occurs when there is a  high concentration of minerals in a particular region, allowing for economic dependency on few sources of supply.

      This over-reliance not only threatens supply but also inhibits the development of these nations. In turn, the reserves of Congo will not be able to match the demand and consumption of larger, wealthier countries. The Chinese government has used this opportunity to invest and slowly begin to take control of the Cobalt market in Congo. By controlling these reserves, China gains leverage over global markets – specifically the renewable energy sector. The U.S government has rightfully expressed concerns regarding Chinese market shares, and is actively pushing to improve American access to the current mineral trade. The U.S. seeks to expand its role in the Congo’s mining sector, primarily to mitigate Chinese dominance and gain control over a re-emerging market. While I support efforts to reduce dependence on foreign-controlled resources, breaking into an already well-established sector poses significant obstacles, and American efforts may struggle to gain traction. To be successful in this matter, the government must pursue ethical partnerships and invest in local infrastructure. 

     As the global economy shifts toward renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs), the demand for critical materials such as lithium, cobalt, and natural graphite has grown exponentially. The common perception is that the transition from coal and hydrocarbon-based fuel sources will reduce the need for extraction. In truth, EVs have created a new wave of market need for critical materials that are required to manufacture batteries and other components. Dr. Eggert and I discussed a few of the commonly posed solutions to this matter. The first was the circular economic model, an economic framework that prioritizes the recycling of critical materials, to be repurposed in secondary production.  Researchers associated with Stanford University and other such universities, who study the circular economy and Lithium-Ion batteries, claim that even after years of use the application of these batteries can transition EVs to energy storage, creating versatile use for already extracted materials. A second solution is a transition to different, more sustainable materials that can be used in batteries. Sodium-ion batteries are a much less commonly used battery, however, as sodium itself as an element is 1,000 times more abundant than lithium. 

      The global mining sector stands at an intersection between economic necessity and ethical responsibility. While it continues to support economic and industrial development for nations, its deep ties to political instability, environmental harm, and labor exploitation cannot be overlooked. To improve upon the status quo, governments and corporations must reimagine the future of mining through economically strategic and socially responsible frameworks. Diversifying supply chains, embracing circular models, and investing in ethical mines to align with global sustainability goals.By