Chile has published its National Critical Minerals Strategy, a plan to position the country as a reliable supplier amid surging global demand driven by artificial intelligence, new technologies and the energy transition. The framework identifies 14 critical minerals: copper, lithium, molybdenum, rhenium, cobalt, rare earth elements, antimony, selenium, tellurium, gold, silver, iron ore, boron and iodine. Industry verdictJuan Ignacio Guzmán, head of Santiago-based mineral consulting firm GEM, said the way the strategy defines critical minerals reflects a balance between economic priorities and broader social expectations. According to Guzmán, category A minerals, where Chile is already a major producer, are largely associated with brownfield developments. The document defines critical minerals as those essential to priorities including the energy transition, food security, defence and resilient supply chains.