Critical minerals processing will be the equivalent of 19th-century oil refineries—at a Rockefeller moment.

The article discusses the emerging importance of critical minerals in the 21st century economy, emphasizing that controlling the supply chain for these minerals—rather than merely mining them—will be the key to wealth generation. It highlights how countries like China dominate the refining and processing of rare earths, which is crucial for industries such as electric vehicle production. The piece draws parallels between historical figures like John D. Rockefeller and today's tech giants, suggesting that future wealth will come from building infrastructure that supports the clean energy economy, rather than from the extraction of raw materials alone. The article concludes that the next major economic players will be those who establish and control the processing systems for critical minerals. [Extracted from the article]