Operations Session
Strengthening Critical Minerals to Manufacturing Value Chains for Sustainability and Resilience
Thursday, 5 June 2025
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (GMT +8)
Rising demand for energy in Asia and the Pacific without a major increase in supply threatens the region’s energy security and affordability, development progress, and the environment. Asia and the Pacific needs enormous investment to meet the estimated six-fold increase in global demand for critical minerals to make solar panels, EVs and other renewable energy components by 2050. Value chains in the sector are challenged by high concentration and fragmentation. There remains a major financing gap for responsible investment to meet projected demand for critical minerals to manufacture the clean energy technologies the world needs. Developing countries hold the bulk of the world's critical mineral reserves, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, but they’re not able to maximize this for development. At the same time, without stringent standards, mining and manufacturing pose considerable environmental, social, and governance risks, as well as the risk of carbon lock-in.
New technologies, innovative solutions and business models exist to make the sectors more environmentally sustainable, drive cost efficiency, enhance transparency across value chains, and effectively reverse the trend in GHG emissions. ADB’s approach focusses on supporting the development of diverse, responsible and sustainable critical minerals to clean energy technology value chains, including facilitating a shift to a circular clean energy economy.
AGENDA
Emcee: Eric Lam, Energy Specialist, ADB
2:00 - 2:05 p.m.
Introductory / Opening Remarks
Hideaki Iwasaki, Director General, Sectors Department 1, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
2:06 - 2:30 p.m.
Fireside Chat: Asia and the Pacific's Critical Mineral Sector – ADB and Donor support in action
Moderator: Claire Alidenes, Principal Investment Specialist, ADB
Speakers:
Dustin Schinn, Climate Change Specialist, ADB
John Lok, Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Canada to the Philippines
Isak Mare, Deputy Project Director of Reko Diq
Rose Marie Mendoza, Acting Director, Resource-Based Industries Service, Board of Investments, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippines
2:31 - 2:33 p.m.
Scene Setting: Innovative Solutions for Sustainable and Responsible Critical Mineral and Manufacturing Development
Moderator: Annika Seiler, ADB
Presentations and Q&A: Panelists are given 7 minutes each to present their work followed by a Q&A
2:39 - 2:46 p.m.
Battery Recycling Solutions
Simon Rolland, Programme Manager, Southeast Asia, International Energy Agency
2:47 - 2:54 p.m.
Financing solutions for low-carbon power supply for mines in developing Asia
Jens Rodenhauser, Head of Advisory, Dornier Group
2:55 - 3:02 p.m.
Viability Assessment of Local Manufacturing of Electric Vehicle Service Equipment in the Philippines
Lew Tria, Professor, University of Philippines Diliman
3:03 - 3:10 p.m.
Private sector solutions for local community development
Joan D. Adaci-Cattiling, OceanaGold
3:11 - 3:18 p.m.
Innovative Mobility Solutions, Digitalization and Automation for Mining
Eunice Cuntig, Mining Engineer, Epiroc
3:19 - 3:27 p.m.
Open Forum - Q&A from Audience
Moderator: Annika Seiler, Principal Energy Specialist, ADB
3:28 - 3:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Pradeep Tharakan, Director, Energy Transition, ADB
SPEAKERS
Hideaki Iwasaki
Director General, Sectors Department 1 (Energy and Transport Sectors), Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Claire Alidenes
Principal Investment Specialist, ADB
Dustin Schinn
Climate Change Specialist, ADB
John Lok
Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Canada
Isak Mare
Deputy Project Director, Barrick Mining Corporation
Annika Seiler
Principal Energy Specialist, Asian Development Bank
Jens Rodenhäuser
Head of Advisory, Dornier Group GmbH
Lew Andrew Tria
Professor, University of the Philippines Diliman
Joan D. Adaci-Cattiling
President and General Manager - External Affairs and Social Performance, OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc.
Pradeep Tharakan
Director, Asian Development Bank