Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson gets around..Hot off the heels of his appearance at the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary last week, he’ll be in Paris on Wednesday to attend a joint meeting with International Energy Agency (IEA) boss Dr. Faith Birol, according to a media advisory from Natural Resources Canada..On the agenda will be “critical minerals, clean energy and nuclear energy,” followed by a media Zoom call back..Canada is one of 31 member and 13 associate countries of the IEA representing about 75% of global demand. The group on Wednesday is hosting its first ever ‘critical minerals and clean energy summit’ — by invite only — at its Paris headquarters overlooking the Eiffel Tower..The summit will convene ministers from countries around the world, including both large mineral producers and consumers, as well as business leaders, investors, heads of international organizations and “civil society representatives” the IEA said on its website..According to an IEA backgrounder, demand for minerals that help power electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels and other energy technologies is “skyrocketing as the global energy transition gathers pace,” increasing the need for international cooperation..“Growing investment in critical mineral development provides grounds for cautious optimism on future supplies. Yet the risk of project delays and technology-specific shortfalls leaves little room for complacency – and more projects are needed by 2030 in a scenario that limits global warming to 1.5C,” according to the IEA’s analysis..“Limited progress on diversifying supply sources also remains a major concern, while environmental, social and governance performance offers significant scope for improvement. These trends underscore the importance of high-level dialogue among global stakeholders.”.At the WPC in Calgary last week, leaders including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, the Saudi oil minister and Aramco CEO Amin Nasser all blasted the IEA’s fossil fuel demand numbers for being ‘politically’ rather than fact driven.
