Bob Wilt
Showing 1–2 of 2 transcripts.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Global Stakes: Critical Mineral Investments in a Changing World | Middle East & Africa Summit
Eleni Giokos, Mateo Goldman, Marie-Chantal Kaninda, Oskar Lewnowski, Ayo Sopitan, Bob Wilt
The US government and its allies are accelerating a strategic pivot to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from Chinese dominance by leveraging the Development Finance Corporation to fund midstream processing hubs in Saudi Arabia and the Lobito Corridor. This initiative targets a projected 2040 copper shortfall of 10 million tons by addressing permitting bottlenecks, integrating ESG standards, and financing renewable energy infrastructure to enable "green copper" production in the DRC. Simultaneously, partnerships between nations like the US and Saudi Arabia aim to build downstream industrial capabilities while developing recycling technologies to meet the massive demand for electrification without relying on Chinese refining networks.
- Milken Institute42 min
Energy Transition: Critical Minerals, Climate Tech, & Policy Shifts | Middle East and Africa Summit
John Defterios, His Excellency Majid Al Suwaidi, Lucie Berger, Frank Fannon, Oskar Lewnowski, Bob Wilt, Majid Al Suwaidi
Launched by the UAE, the $30 billion Alira Initiative seeks to mobilize $250 billion in private capital by 2030 to bridge the investment gap in the Global South, where 85% of current transition funding flows to the North. The program targets critical bottlenecks in the energy supply chain, specifically addressing the decade-long permitting delays and geopolitical concentration of critical minerals that currently hinder gigafactory development. By combining a de-risked investment structure with a focus on modernizing the mining sector's public image, the initiative aims to secure a resilient, technology-driven future for clean energy while challenging the dominance of existing supply chains.