17 March 2026

Diesel shocks: which critical minerals rise with mine-site electrification?

Key insights from this briefing

Which critical minerals are needed to replace diesel with solar and battery systems?

Mine-site electrification can increase demand for copper, graphite, silicon, nickel, manganese, cobalt, lithium, rare earths and silver. The exact mix depends on battery chemistry, motor design and the scale of the solar, storage and charging system.

How does electrification change a remote operation's resource dependency?

Diesel is a recurring fuel input that must be continuously transported and consumed. Electrification shifts more of the dependency into upfront mineral-intensive equipment that can operate for many years, reducing exposure to fuel logistics but increasing exposure to mineral and equipment supply chains.

Excerpt from this briefing's Industry Insight

A diesel supply shock highlights how electrification can shift operating risk from fuel markets into mineral supply chains. Replacing ongoing diesel consumption with solar, batteries and electric equipment requires substantial upfront quantities of copper, graphite, silicon, nickel, manganese, lithium, rare earths and silver. Unlike diesel, these minerals are embedded in capital assets that can operate for a decade or more rather than being continuously burned. The transition therefore substitutes recurring exposure to oil logistics with an initial, concentrated requirement for strategic materials and electrical infrastructure.

This is an excerpt from the Industry Insight in the full Market Briefing. Log in to access the complete briefing.