U.S. Energy Information Administration logo
Skip to sub-navigation
This page has no sub-navigation. Skip to page content.

Today in Energy More Today in Energy

Posted December 10, 2025

Energy Minerals Observatory: The data deficits in critical supply chains ›

classifying critical minerals and materials

Data source: U.S. Department of the Interior’s 2025 list of critical minerals; U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023 list of critical materials and a recently proposed addition
Note: This Today in Energy article launches the Energy Minerals Observatory, a new project of the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In 2026, as part of the Observatory and the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS), EIA plans to conduct field studies of three minerals: graphite, vanadium, and zirconium.

Critical minerals, such as copper, cobalt, and silicon, are vital for energy technologies, but most critical minerals markets are less transparent than mature energy markets, such as crude oil or coal. Like other energy markets, many supply-side and demand-side factors influence pricing for these energy-relevant critical minerals, but critical minerals supply chains contain numerous data gaps.

More ›

Previously in Today in Energy

Energy Education