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OECD urges shared standards for lithium and nickel traceability

An OECD study finds critical-minerals tracking is fragmented across companies, with traders adopting traceability systems more than miners.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Mining

A new OECD study argues that stronger traceability for critical minerals, including lithium and nickel, could improve the credibility and integrity of supply chains as demand reaches record-high levels. The report links the push to national defense needs and technologies tied to the energy transition.

The OECD said global investment in exploration faces obstacles tied to operational and governance risks in production and processing. It argues that better tracking of mineral origins, key asset ownership, and materials across the chain of custody could help manage those risks and support more resilient supply chains.

According to the report, current traceability tools are fragmented, often built within individual companies rather than under comprehensive industry frameworks. The OECD found traders have the highest rates of traceability-system implementation, while miners have the lowest.

The study also cites practical barriers for companies, including confidentiality concerns, supplier leverage, and data quality. OECD survey respondents prioritized regulatory consistency and a shared data infrastructure between countries, companies, and the public, noting that end-to-end traceability may not be fully achievable yet, and that approaches like supply-chain mapping, audits, and mass balance are being used.

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