Morgan D. Bazilian

Not sure I will continue to publish "over here" - not as fun as advertised.

Looking forward to again hosting Roger Pielke Jr to Payne Institute tomorrow.

Please join us for what will certainly be a fascinating and timely conversation:

payneinstitute.mines.edu/event/what-h...

Satellite Data Shows Massive Fire Following Russian Arsenal Explosion - Payne Institute for Public Policy

The Payne Institute satellite data team confirmed and analyzed a massive explosion at a Russian arsenal earlier this week.

This is part of our Global Conflict Monitoring:

payneinstitute.mines.edu/satellite-da...

Illicit mineral supply chains fuel the DRC’s M23 insurgency The illicit trade of mined materials is fueling the M23 insurgency in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), threatening regional stability and hindering development. As the United States...

Our latest for the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social looks at

illicit minerals supply chains and the M23 insurgency in the Eastern DRC.

www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/energy...

The Smart Bet: Natural Gas for AI With rising energy demand, natural gas for AI offers a reliable, scalable power solution for data centers and digital infrastructure.

Our latest looks at, what else: AI and energy demand!

The reality is that despite lots of lofty rhetoric, the bulk of new US data center energy demand will be met by natural gas plants.

nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-...

Now that everyone is, again, a rare earths expert, it might be useful to go back to some of our research and writing over the last few years the Payne Institute...

As an example, last year's: "The U.S. Must Fortify Itself Against Future Mineral Export Bans"
www.realcleardefense.com/articles/202...

Eyes on the Arctic: Satellite Monitoring of the Arctic LNG 2 Terminal - Payne Institute for Public Policy

For my huge following over here...

Our new satellite analysis looks closely at the Russian Arctic LNG2 project.

This project has significant implications for the LNG market, as well as for the wider Arctic security environment.

payneinstitute.mines.edu/eyes-on-the-...

The DOE just put out a new energy plan. To wit:

We wrote a comprehensive analysis of retrieving rare earths from coal ash about three years ago.

“RARE EARTH ELEMENT RESOURCE EVALUATION OF COAL BYPRODUCTS: A CASE STUDY FROM THE POWDER RIVER BASIN, WYOMING”

payneinstitute.mines.edu/rare-earth-e...

Why are oil prices plummeting? Hint: it's not just tariffs. When the economy slows down, the price of oil tends to fall. But this time, OPEC+ is increasing production despite weak demand.

Always a pleasure to talk to the great journalists at @marketplace.org!

Today, we discussed the difficult and complex times in the US oil market for companies and commodities.

www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...

Looking forward to talking US copper in Phoenix today!

Future-Proofing U.S. Technology: Strategic Priorities Amid Chinese Tech Advancement - New Lines Institute Read the full compendium here Attend the launch event here In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, the United States faces an unprecedented strategic challenge: maintaining its technolog...

Proud to see our paper: "How the U.S. Can Leverage Security Assistance to Secure Supply Chains" published today in the new

"Future-Proofing U.S. Technology: Strategic Priorities Amid Chinese Tech Advancement" Compendium from New Line Institute

newlinesinstitute.org/strategic-te...

Nice to see our Payne Institute satellite data being used for this important story.

Ukrainians face fears during the country's darkest nights All over Ukraine, war has made nighttime darker. Satellite imagery shows a significant dimming of lights since 2022. Darkness has spread indoors too, with power cuts becoming common during the war.

All over Ukraine, war has made nighttime darker. Satellite imagery shows a significant dimming of lights since 2022. Darkness has spread indoors too, with power cuts becoming common during the war.

Three Satellites Confirm Malaysia Pipeline Explosion: VNF Thermal Detections Corroborate Major Industrial Fire Near Kuala Lumpur - Payne Institute for Public Policy

Our amazing Payne Institute for Public Policy satellite team provide insights on the recent tragic pipeline explosion in Malaysia.

payneinstitute.mines.edu/three-satell...

Three Satellites Confirm Malaysia Pipeline Explosion: VNF Thermal Detections Corroborate Major Industrial Fire Near Kuala Lumpur - Payne Institute for Public Policy

Our amazing Payne Institute for Public Policy satellite team provide insights on the recent tragic pipeline explosion in Malaysia.

payneinstitute.mines.edu/three-satell...

Opinion: The mining executive order needs creative financial support to achieve its goals The call for public financial support speaks to the very real financial challenges (and risks) that domestic mining faces given China’s dominant position across many key minerals.

Getting domestic mining for critical minerals moving will require creative financial mechanisms.

Great work by Brad Handler and the Payne Institute for Public Policy's Energy Finance Lab.

www.mining.com/opinion-the-...

Join us tomorrow for a fascinating discussion!

As we welcome Trisha Curtis from PetroNerds from 1-2pm for a hybrid seminar, discussing:

"Energy Security, China, Inflation, and Oil Prices"

payneinstitute.mines.edu/event/a-disc...

As is becoming a trend, the minerals case for US interest in Greenland is overblown and largely ignorant of logistical/operational challenges.

Latest from @busbyj2.bsky.social @mbazilian.bsky.social and Emily Holland!

Greenland's Minerals Won't Secure the U.S. Supply Chain Greenland’s minerals draw U.S. interest, but Arctic conditions, local opposition, and supply chain gaps limit near-term strategic gains.

Our new piece on Greenland's critical minerals w Emily Holland and @mbazilian.bsky.social. Setting aside the administration's effort to acquire the territory, accessing those minerals is challenging for a variety of reasons. nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-...

Greenland's Minerals Won't Secure the U.S. Supply Chain Greenland’s minerals draw U.S. interest, but Arctic conditions, local opposition, and supply chain gaps limit near-term strategic gains.

Greenland is back in the news.

Emily Holland, Josh Busby, and I break down the national security and supply chain implications of accessing their critical minerals.

nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-...

5 Bipartisan Actions to Protect America’s Mineral Supply Chains Congress needs to make sure critical resources are protected.

The White House today issued its Executive Order on American Mineral Production.

Almost all of the elements in the EO we anticipated in two essays from three months ago:

1. foreignpolicy.com/2024/11/18/u...

2. source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/opin...

5 Bipartisan Actions to Protect America’s Mineral Supply Chains Congress needs to make sure critical resources are protected.

The White House today issued its Executive Order on American Mineral Production.

Almost all of the elements in the EO we anticipated in two essays from three months ago:

1. foreignpolicy.com/2024/11/18/u...

2. source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/opin...

How much will the U.S. energy mix change under Trump? "Drill, baby, drill!" was his rallying cry. But price may be a more powerful factor in the choice of energy sources.

Always great to talk to the team at @marketplace.org

www.marketplace.org/2025/03/17/h...

March 17, 2025: Mining politics and policy; It's crunch time at the state Capitol | Colorado Public Radio From molybdenum to lithium, modern life depends on chemicals. But what the U.S. mines is rarely processed here. We'll get perspective on how mining could change under the Trump administration amid rar...

A pleasure to speak to Ryan Warner on @cprnews.bsky.social about critical minerals, mining, trade, security, and China:

www.cpr.org/show-episode...

A “Sputnik moment” in Deep Sea Mining China’s deep-sea mining deal with the Cook Islands risks leaving the United States behind in critical minerals essential for energy, defense, and tech.

New piece by @spacepower.bsky.social @mbazilian.bsky.social and myself on the broader Asia-Pacific implications of China's recent seafloor minerals deal with the Cook Islands and how it highlights the lack of U.S. seafloor polymetallic nodules policy to date.

nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-...

A “Sputnik moment” in Deep Sea Mining China’s deep-sea mining deal with the Cook Islands risks leaving the United States behind in critical minerals essential for energy, defense, and tech.

China continues to make deals and dominate globally on critical minerals. The US should start to compete.

Terrific to work with two brilliant analysts: Alex Gilbert & Seaver Wang

Our latest in the The National Interest:

nationalinterest.org/blog/energy-...

Interactions between energy security and climate change: A focus on developing countries We briefly consider the tensions between climate change and energy security policy imperatives, and highlight some concepts that may bring additional …

15 years ago, I argued that climate change should be treated as a subset of energy policy rather than vice versa in order to be politically viable.

And that climate change should not be prioritized over energy access in developing economies.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Looking forward to another great CERAWeek by S&P Global.

Many thanks to Atul Arya, Daniel Yergin, and Roger Diwan for the invitation to speak. This year, I will focus on energy security, methane emissions, and the USA/China dynamic in trade and minerals.

See you in Houston!

www.ceraweek.com/en

OPINION: What could the Trump administration’s mineral policy look like? | Benchmark Source “We’re going to become a major producer of…minerals. We’re going to create jobs, making…us truly self-reliant,” then-candidate Donald Trump said in September. Based on Trump’s comments and his first a...

A few months ago, we highlighted some policies that might be pursued on critical minerals by the Trump Administration.

A new Executive Order is expected on the topic imminently.

We outlined five actions:

source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/opin...

OPINION: What could the Trump administration’s mineral policy look like? | Benchmark Source “We’re going to become a major producer of…minerals. We’re going to create jobs, making…us truly self-reliant,” then-candidate Donald Trump said in September. Based on Trump’s comments and his first a...

A few months ago, we highlighted some policies that might be pursued on critical minerals by the Trump Administration.

A new Executive Order is expected on the topic imminently.

We outlined five actions:

source.benchmarkminerals.com/article/opin...