China looms over EV maker’s graphite dealBy Liam Denning / Bloomberg OpinionGraphite, the stuff in pencils, does not typically feature in thrillers; that is reserved for the likes of uranium and gold. Graphite, prized for its inertness, is at the center of the tightening convergence between control of critical minerals, the energy transition and national security. China’s grip on the global graphite supply chain, in terms of production and refining, is the tightest of all the major critical minerals needed for batteries. Energy transition was certainly a theme of the various speeches in that meeting room on Thursday. Given the yawning gap in Republican and Democratic positions on energy transition, it would be premature to play up the bipartisan aspect here.
