United Nations, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has launched a new support mechanism aimed at helping mineral-rich developing countries capture greater economic value from critical minerals needed for the global clean energy transition.
The Country Support Mechanism on Critical Energy Transition Minerals will initially assist Guinea, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the United Nations said.
The initiative will provide technical assistance to strengthen governance, expand local mineral processing and promote industrial development while safeguarding communities and the environment.
“The countries that hold the critical minerals powering the energy transition must be the first to benefit from them,” Guterres said.
The UN said copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements are essential for technologies including wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles and battery storage. Demand for critical minerals is projected to nearly triple by 2030 as countries shift towards renewable energy.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Development Coordination Office will lead the mechanism, drawing on expertise from across the UN system. Teams working through UN resident offices will assess individual countries’ requirements and coordinate tailored support.
The priorities will include improving governance, increasing local processing, promoting industrial development and strengthening environmental and human safeguards. The work will follow principles and recommendations developed by the Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.
Zambian Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe said his country wanted to move beyond simply increasing copper production and instead create greater economic value domestically.
“We want Zambians to be full participants in, not simply suppliers to, the global clean energy and technology transition,” Haimbe said, stressing the need for stronger governance, investment and partnerships.
UNDP Administrator Alexander de Croo said mineral wealth could help transform economies when value creation, environmental protection and good governance progressed together.
UN Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen said the agency would contribute expertise on responsible sourcing, environmental protection and more circular resource use.
The mechanism is part of a broader UN task force on critical energy transition minerals, co-led by the UNDP, UN Conference on Trade and Development and UN Environment Programme. The UN announcement did not specify a funding amount for the new mechanism.
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