Operations Session: Strengthening Critical Minerals to Manufacturing Value Chains for Sustainability and Resilience

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

AGENDA

SPEAKERS

PRESENTATIONS