What Does The Energy Transition Mean For The Mining And Infrastructure Sectors? Challenges And Opportunities For A Just Transition

As the world moves towards cleaner sources of energy, new challenges and opportunities are emerging for the infrastructure and mining sectors.

The shift to clean energy technologies to generate and store power is already underway in many parts of the world, and as our solar power plants, wind farms and electric vehicles multiply, so do the mineral resources required to produce them.

The infrastructure sector is a key part of this transition, building the components and transmission lines for new energy and of course the roads, rails and ports to transport critical minerals. 

The infrastructure sector is one of the most corruption-prone sectors globally. If large infrastructure projects are designed and implemented without effective anti-corruption controls and assurance, roads can be built to nowhere, buildings and bridges crumble, environments are damaged, and communities can be left divided and displaced.  

The mining sector has a critical role to ensure that the energy transition is sustainable and just. Low-carbon technologies in power generation and in transport require a higher level of mineral inputs than their fossil-fuel based versions. Demand for transition minerals will grow dramatically If the world is to meet its climate commitments, and limit global temperature rise to below 1.5°C. 

Meeting this demand will mean new mines and new clean energy projects, and will create new challenges and opportunities for both the infrastructure and mining sector. Improving our anti-corruption efforts and ensuring that business integrity is maintained throughout the value chain is crucial for a sustainable and just energy transition. 

Join this webinar discussion with industry and civil society experts to discuss key trends, challenges and opportunities that the energy transition brings to the mining and infrastructure sectors.

Speakers:

• Dr Maria da Graça Prado, senior policy & research adviser, COST
• Matthieu Salomon, acting governance programs director, NRGI
• Dr Ana Estefanía Carballo, research and program manager, Accountable Mining