During a session held within the framework of the International Association for Energy Economics’ Middle East and Central Asia Conference, the critical minerals that form the backbone of the energy transition were brought to the table. At the session held in Antalya, the economic opportunities and geopolitical risks emerging for the region were examined from multiple perspectives.

Ahmet Turan Özdemir, General Manager of ASPİLSAN Enerji, stated that raw materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite are no longer merely industrial inputs but have become strategic components of the clean-energy ecosystem.

Drawing attention to the exponential increase in battery demand as electrification accelerates globally, Özdemir emphasized that competition is now shaped not only by raw-material prices but also by refining technologies and active-material production capabilities. He noted that domestic supply chains and efficient production models provide strategic advantages for countries.

Addressing the sustainability dimension in his speech, Özdemir said that end-of-life batteries are now considered the mines of the future and that design focused on recyclability has become a global standard. He highlighted that thanks to advanced recycling technologies, up to 95% of critical metals can be recovered. This approach, he stated, both reduces the carbon footprint and significantly decreases dependency on external sources.