site.btaCritical Minerals Supply Chains Discussed at US State Department Workshop in Sofia

A Balkan workshop on promoting sustainable supply chains for critical minerals was held in Sofia between October 23 and 25 under the Energy and Mineral Governance Program (EMGP) of the Bureau of Energy Resources at the US Department of State, the Bulgarian Energy Ministry reported on Wednesday. The event was attended by government officials from Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Critical minerals (such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements) are essential components in many of today's rapidly growing clean energy technologies - from wind turbines and electricity networks to electric vehicles. Demand for these minerals is growing quickly as clean energy transitions gather pace, the International Energy Agency says on its website.

EMGP, which encompasses countries from all over the world, is part of the US Energy Resource Governance Initiative. It is aimed to catalogue and disseminate good practices in the sector of mineral resources.

The Sofia workshop was intended to boost regional cooperation in promoting the sustainable management of the mining industry, stepping up new development projects in this field and extending the value-added chain, particularly in the context of the push for zero net emissions.

The participants in the workshop concurred that concerted efforts are needed to develop mutually beneficial solutions for the sustainable development of critical minerals supply chains in the Balkans, the Energy Ministry said.

Covering an Automotive & Battery Forum in Sofia back in April, BTA quoted the then economy minister Nikola Stoyanov as saying that Bulgaria is Europe's largest copper producer and exploration is planned for lithium deposits here. International experts said at the forum that Eastern Europe can become independent in battery making.