The Istanbul Natural Resources Summit opened Friday with a high-level ministerial session titled “Mining in the Energy Transition,” bringing together key policymakers from across the globe to discuss the vital role of mineral resources in the future of clean energy.
The session was chaired by Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, and attended by senior officials from Libya, Somalia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Hungary.
The summit, held in Türkiye’s commercial capital, signals growing international focus on mineral security as nations race to meet energy transition goals.
Addressing the gathering, Bayraktar highlighted the urgent global demand for critical and strategic minerals.
“The world is undergoing a major energy transformation, and that process has led to a significant increase in demand for vital and strategic minerals,” he stated.
He emphasized that mining now extends beyond mere extraction, evolving into a key geopolitical and industrial pillar.
“Access to vital minerals has become a crucial factor in international relations,” Bayraktar noted.
He underscored the indispensable role of minerals in clean energy technologies, electric vehicles, battery storage systems, digital infrastructure, and industrial modernization.
Niger’s Minister of Mining, Ousmane Abarchi, echoed these sentiments, outlining his country’s efforts to maximize its mineral wealth.
“We have significant cooperation with Türkiye, particularly in the mining sector. We will strengthen and deepen this cooperation.
We aim to implement new practices in our countries,” he said.
Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Khalid Al-Mudaifer, described his country’s strides since launching a mining strategy in 2018.
“The number of mining companies, which ranged between three and four in 2018, has now reached 132,” he revealed, stressing that the kingdom cannot rely solely on oil and gas.
Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Dahir Shire Mohamed, announced new efforts to explore and extract his country’s natural resources.
“Natural resource exploration studies have begun, and an agreement has been signed with Türkiye in this regard,” he confirmed.
Meanwhile, Libya’s Minister of Industry and Minerals, Ahmed Ali Abu Heisa, said the country was revising its geological mapping and mining programs.
“Libya possesses very rich mineral resources, and investment laws are very flexible and accommodating,” he said, underlining the country’s commitment to attracting foreign investment in the sector.
The summit marked a pivotal moment for mineral-rich nations and industrial economies alike as they seek collaboration in securing essential resources to drive the global energy transition.
Source: AnadoluAgency