Behind the Lobito Corridor: the Energy Dimension and the Importance of Minerals

“Behind the Lobito Corridor” is a podcast series produced by the Istituto Affari Internazionali as part of the project: "Italy at the forefront of infrastructure diplomacy: the Lobito Corridor case". This podcast has been realised with the support of the Unit for Analysis, Policy Planning and Historical Documentation - Directorate General for Political Affairs and International Security of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in accordance with Article 23‒bis of the Decree of the President of the Italian Republic 18/1967. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The series delves deeper into the research briefs published within the project through conversations between the authors of the briefs and the host Pietro Rinaldi, Junior Researcher in the Energy, Climate and Resource Programme.

In this third episode, the brief explored is: “Minerals and the Lobito Corridor: Between Domestic Needs and the EU’s Derisking Strategy". The authors, Pietro Rinaldi, Junior Researcher, and Pier Paolo Raimondi, Senior Research Fellow — both in the 'Energy, Climate and Resources' programme — and Research Fellow at the European University Institute, examine the Corridor through an energy lens, exploring the potential synergies and tensions between European and African interests in the mining sector.

The conversation touches on energy access, critical minerals strategies, and the diversification and securitization of supply chains.