Global Energy Agenda
May 20, 2026 • 12:47 pm ET
Rohitesh Dhawan
Rohitesh “Ro” Dhawan is the president and CEO of the International Council on Mining and Minerals (ICMM), a role he has held since 2021. He leads the Council of 26 CEOs of the world’s largest mining and metals companies in voluntary leadership actions that raise the standards of responsible mining. This essay is part of the 2026 Global Energy Agenda.
In industry, we often talk about minerals as the hidden ingredients of modern life. They are the enablers of technological progress and economic growth, and more recently of national security. But the world’s dependence on them is no secret. Throughout history, people have shown a primordial connection to metals and minerals, dating back to the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Each marked a step forward in human development as each era harnessed the power of these resources.
