Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Jose W. Fernandez, will travel to Brussels, Belgium, from December 11 to 13, 2024, to participate in the European Commission’s Raw Materials Week and to advance discussions on critical minerals projects and policies with key stakeholders, including members of the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and the MSP Forum.
On December 12, Under Secretary Fernandez will co-host the MSP Forum Principals meeting alongside representatives from the Republic of Korea. The meeting will include an in-depth review of ongoing and future MSP projects, focusing on securing critical mineral supplies and advancing global energy security. This gathering will provide a platform to assess progress and strengthen collaborations on essential minerals needed for clean energy technologies and sustainable economic growth.
Additionally, Under Secretary Fernandez will lead a roundtable discussion with new members of the MSP Forum, which aims to enhance international cooperation in the area of critical minerals. The MSP brings together governments, industries, and civil society organizations committed to ensuring secure and sustainable access to essential minerals, which are vital for advancing the green energy transition and infrastructure development.
Following the roundtable, Under Secretary Fernandez will attend a workshop hosted by the European Commission, featuring members of the MSP Forum, the private sector, and civil society. The workshop will focus on how critical minerals projects and policies can be designed to ensure that mineral-rich countries benefit from the growth of local industries and the creation of new economic opportunities. This discussion aims to foster a more equitable distribution of the economic benefits generated by the mining and processing of critical minerals.
Under Secretary Fernandez’s visit will also include participation in a dinner hosted by MINVEST, the public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the SAFE Center for Critical Minerals Strategy. At the dinner, Fernandez will engage with European public and private sector representatives to discuss investment challenges and opportunities in the critical minerals sector. The focus will be on promoting investment in critical mineral supply chains to support global energy security and the transition to a cleaner energy future.
This visit highlights the U.S. government’s commitment to strengthening international collaboration on critical minerals, which are integral to supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy and ensuring long-term energy security worldwide.