Abstract
The transition from fossil fuel based energy systems to renewable energy systems represent a fundamental transformation in the structure of international politics and economic power. Throughout the twentieth century, geopolitical influence was deeply rooted in the control of hydrocarbon resources such as oil and natural gas. These resources were geographically concentrated, enabling states to derive power through territorial control, military presence and strategic alliances. The geopolitics of oil was therefore characterised by direct competition over resource rich regions, control over supply routes and the use of energy as an instrument of statecraft.
However, the increasing shift towards renewable energy technologies, driven by climate imperatives, technological innovation and evolving policy frameworks, is essentially changing the material foundation of energy systems. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable technologies depend on a diverse set of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earth elements. These minerals are not only geographically dispersed but also embedded within complex global supply chains that span extraction, processing, refining, manufacturing and technological integration.
As a result, geopolitical power is increasingly determined not by ownership of raw materials alone but by control over the systems that enable their transformation and use. This article highlights that energy transition is not reducing geopolitical competition, rather it is reconfiguring it into a more complex and network driven form. The emerging order is characterised by new patterns of interdependence, asymmetry and strategic rivalry. By combining theoretical insights with empirical analysis, the article shows that energy geopolitics is evolving into a system defined by supply chain control, technological dominance and geo-economic competition.
Keywords: Energy Geopolitics, Critical Minerals, Renewable Energy Transition, Supply Chain Resilience, Strategic Autonomy
