The British Geological Survey Highlights South America's Geological Potential as A Key Driver for The Energy Transition

The analysis, endorsed by the BGS executive and member of WMC 2026, emphasizes that the future of clean energy will depend on transparent governance and more resilient supply chains. Photo: BGS

Lima, November 17, 2025. Within a global context marked by the urgent need to secure critical minerals for the energy transition, the British Geological Survey (BGS) highlighted that the region possesses unique geological conditions capable of sustaining the increasing global demand for lithium, copper, rare earths, and other essential inputs for the energy transition.

The analysis was presented by Jonathan Ford, Director of National Geoscience at the BGS, and Karen Hanghøj, BGS Executive Director and member of the Organizing Committee of the World Mining Congress (WMC) 2026, in a recent column published in the Global Mining Review.

“From the active Pacific margin and the Andean range in the west to the cratonic terranes in the east, South America is rich in spectacular geological diversity,” said Ford and Hanghøj. This diversity is evident in the fact that it has some of the most important deposits on the planet and a production capacity that, according to the BGS, will be decisive for the global energy future.

A Geographically Strategic Region in A High-Tension Market

The BGS warns that, given the increase in demand for critical minerals—essential for clean technologies, electric mobility, and digital economies—it is necessary to carefully consider South American supply. The authors point out that the continent “is well positioned to significantly contribute to finding solutions to sustainable and secure supply of CRMs (Critical Raw Minerals)”.

The Lithium Triangle is one of the clearest examples. With half of the world’s resources, its geopolitical role is becoming increasingly evident. Ford and Hanghøj emphasize that these ‘salar’ deposits located in the Andes are “some of the most extreme environments on Earth,” highlighting both the challenge and the strategic value of their responsible exploitation.

The analysis also highlights that the region is the world’s largest supplier of niobium and dominates the production of copper, in addition to having large reserves of molybdenum, silver, tin, iron, and bauxite. Added to this is a geological dynamism that continues to deliver world-class discoveries, such as the Vicuña mining district, classified as “the largest greenfield copper discovery in the last 30 years.”

Geology, Governance, and Cooperation

According to the BGS, unlocking this potential depends on accessible, high-quality geological information. “Timely discovery, development, and responsible management of these resources is the foundation to incentivize and de-risk responsible investment in the mineral sector,” they stated.

In a market where supply chains are global, the British agency stresses that only international cooperation will enable common standards to be established: “long-term sustainable solutions require international collaboration that strengthens governance frameworks, accountability, transparency and regional value addition.”

WMC 2026: The Stage That Will Define the Future of Mining

Ms. Karen Hanghøj’s presence on the Organizing Committee of the World Mining Congress 2026, to be held in Lima, reinforces the link between these conclusions and the debates that will shape the global mining agenda. WMC 2026 will focus on how to responsibly produce more minerals to respond to the global urgency of the energy transition.

Ford and Hanghøj underlined that “partnerships between countries and with industry and civil society organizations are essential for developing and sharing good practices, as well as for building resilient and responsible mineral supply chains.” This is precisely one of the main themes of the Congress, which will bring together authorities, scientists, companies, and international organizations to advance toward more innovative, sustainable, and future-oriented mining.

Original article: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/11112025/critical-raw-materials-in-south-america-a-key-resource-for-the-global-energy-transition/

The British Geological Survey Highlights South America’s Geological Potential as A Key Driver for The Energy Transition

Latest Posts