Bozinovska at Astana Forum: Critical Minerals are the new geopolitical axis of energy transition

The Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Raw materials, Sanja Bozinovska, participated today in the plenary session « The Resource Race: Who Controls the Green Future » within the Astana International Forum 2025, where critical minerals are becoming a key factor in the global energy and security policy.

In her address to the plenary session, Bozinovska pointed out that the transition to renewable energy sources and green technologies is causing demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, copper and graphite, because, according to her, these resources are also important industrial raw materials.

Bozinovska referred to the role of smaller countries in the new map of global energy interests, as well as Macedonia’s perspectives, with an emphasis on sustainable exploitation of resources, regional cooperation and dedication to environmental standards and good governance.

– The transition to renewable energy and green technologies is causing unprecedented demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, copper, graphite. These resources, in addition to being important industrial raw materials- are strategic tools that shape the new world order … At a time when the world strives for decarbonization, we must not allow a new form of addiction- this time not from fossil fuels, but by minerals under geopolitical control- the minister said.

Macedonia has the potential to become part of the solution, Bozinovska believes, through sustainable use of its own mineral resources and development of processing and storage capacities. As a step towards increasing network flexibility and better integration of changing energy sources, Bozinovska has pointed to the new Energy Law, which provides that all new energy capacities must include battery storage systems of at least 20 percent of installed capacity, as a step towards increasing network flexibility.

– Our goal is to build an energy system that is resistant, sustainable and independent. It means not only investments in renewable sources, but also in storage, recycling and responsible mineral resource management technologies- says Bozinovska.

According to the minister, the key to successful energy transition is to balance economic interests, environmental protection and social justice. Bozinovska called for international cooperation and diversification of supply chains for critical minerals, in order to ensure a stable and just green future for all.