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China has deployed over $120 billion in outbound investment across critical minerals since 2023, building end-to-end industrial control from mining through refining, logistics, and manufacturing rather than simply securing raw materials. China dominates midstream processing with 85–90% of rare earth refining and ~90% of battery components, while resource-rich countries like Australia risk remaining upstream suppliers despite producing over 50% of global lithium. The report reinforces that control of refining and downstream processing—not raw resources—defines strategic advantage, with the window for Western allies to shift from resource wealth to industrial power rapidly narrowing. Read more

Chinese firms are increasingly partnering with host governments to build in-country processing facilities, infrastructure such as railways, ports and power systems, and local industrial capacity, in exchange for long-term supply agreements, says CEF founder Tim Buckley, who co-authored the report. This approach aligns China’s resource security goals with host countries’ ambitions to capture more value domestically and accelerate their own industrial development, he adds. Read more

Tim Buckley highlights the International Energy Agency’s warning of a severe global energy crisis, noting past price spikes after Russia’s […] Read more

The director of Climate Energy Finance, Tim Buckley, says these conglomerates are profiteering from the war with the blessing of US President Donald Trump. The US is self-sufficient in oil and gas and is a net exporter. Trump boasted in a social media post: “The United States is the largest oil producer in the world by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money.” Buckley argues it is time for Australia to protect itself from these recurring oil shocks. He suggests Chalmers end the $11-billion-a-year subsidy on imported diesel in Australia, which undermines our energy security, independence and climate ambitions. Read more

Tim Buckley’s interview starts at 1:06:51 in the following link: ABC Gold Coast Drive Tom Forbes reports that the Australian […] Read more

China has invested over $120B since 2023 in global critical minerals, strengthening its dominance in clean energy supply chains and processing. Through infrastructure-for-resources deals—especially in Africa—China secures long-term supply while expanding into local processing. These investments raise concerns over debt burdens, limited local economic benefits, and growing Chinese control over strategic resources. Read more

A new report titled ‘ Raw Power China locks in global dominance of critical minerals and metals with US$120bn outbound investment surge,‘ released by the Australian think tank Climate Energy Finance, highlights a major shift in global industrial strategy driven by Chinese companies. Read more

As Climate Energy Finance’s latest report out this week, Raw Power, highlights: the world’s overwhelming decarbonisation leader, China, is rolling out a structural, state-directed strategy to secure dominance of global supply chains underpinning the emerging zero emissions world economy. Since 2023, Climate Energy Finance has tracked over $US120 billion in global investments and projects by Chinese firms into resource mining and upstream processing, including critical metals to the energy transformation in lithium, nickel, copper, high-grade iron ore, and bauxite, as well as rare earths and minerals for national security interests. Read more

The United States’ recent actions in Venezuela and Iran, two of China’s key oil suppliers, have also influenced its outlook, said Tim Buckley, director of Climate Energy Finance. “Countries [including China] logically will be focused on energy independence,” he said. Here’s what China’s 15th five-year plan, mapping its economic development between 2026-2030, says about its plans to reduce carbon emissions and transition to green energy. Read more

China has invested over $120 billion in overseas mining and mineral processing projects since 2023, Australian think tank Climate Energy Finance (CEF) has reported. The investments primarily targeted lithium, copper, nickel and rare earths, critical minerals essential for clean energy and decarbonization technologies. However, whereas these investments have helped boost clean energy industries in developing countries, they have raised serious concerns, including debt risks. Read more

A new Climate Energy Finance report shows the scale of the push. Since 2023, China has committed more than US$120 billion in outbound investment across critical minerals and metals. From lithium in Zimbabwe to nickel processing in Indonesia and iron ore infrastructure in Guinea, Chinese capital is moving with deliberate intent across the Global South. The aim is not simply to secure raw materials. It is to lock in the feedstock, processing capacity, and industrial partnerships needed for batteries, electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, and green industrial commodities. Read more

Australia’s electricity regulator, as reported by ABC Illawarra, has announced a lower default market offer, reducing benchmark power prices as […] Read more