Members of Silverado Policy Accelerator's Research & Analysis team and WireScreen recently collaborated in co-hosting a webinar titled "Elements of Control: Illuminating China's leading role in critical minerals refining." The webinar explored China's dominance of the critical mineral refining industry, and the ties between government, the defense industrial base, and major players in cobalt, lithium, and tantalum.

Watch the "Elements of Control" webinar recording.

Key Takeaways:

• China accounts for the majority of refining of cobalt, lithium, and tantalum.
• Many major Chinese refiners increased the volume of processing over time, but revenue has been impacted by price fluctuations.
• Chinese refiners are supported by and intertwined with Chinese government entities, which goes beyond direct ownership stakes to include joint ventures, grants, subsidies, and other preferential treatment.