Episode 29: The Critical Role of Metals in the Energy Transition with Alon Olsha, Bloomberg Intelligence

Metals are the invisible backbone of our sustainable future, powering electric vehicles, AI infrastructure, renewable energy systems, and global data centres. But with rising demand and tightening supply chains, how prepared are we to meet the needs of the energy transition?

In this episode, our partner Tomer Strikovsky speaks with Alon Olsha, Senior Metals and Mining Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, to unpack the complex world of metals and mining. Alon brings deep insight into how critical minerals like copper, cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements shape everything from climate strategy to geopolitics

Together, they explore:

– Why copper demand could rise by 70% over the next 25 years

– The challenges in scaling mining operations to match demand

– How China came to dominate the global refining landscape

– The paradox of needing more mining to achieve less carbon

– The slow but growing role of innovation and AI in mining

Editor’s Note: This episode was recorded on the 23rd July, 2025, prior to the unexpected 30 July announcement that the US would exclude raw copper from its tariff measures.

Chapters:

00:00 The Role of Metals in Global Trade and Sustainability

03:12 Understanding Different Categories of Metals

05:46 The Demand for Metals in the Energy Transition

08:54 Geopolitics and Metal Supply Chains

12:01 Challenges in Mining and Production

15:13 The Environmental Impact of Mining

17:48 The Influence of Major Mining Companies

21:06 Technological Innovations in Mining

24:07 Future Outlook for Metal Supply and Demand

About Alon Olsha: 

Alon Olsha is a Senior Analyst covering Metals and Mining at Bloomberg Intelligence, based in London. With over two decades of experience spanning equity research, fund management, corporate finance, and government advisory, Alon brings deep expertise in global mining markets and decarbonisation strategies.

Before joining Bloomberg in 2022, Alon held senior roles within the UK government, including Head of the Carbon Capture and Storage Infrastructure Fund at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), where he led initiatives supporting the UK’s low-carbon transition. Earlier, he served as a corporate finance advisor to BEIS, focusing on special situations in the steel sector and electric vehicle infrastructure.

Previously, Alon was a Senior Equity Analyst at Macquarie, leading coverage of major global mining companies. He began his career in South Africa as a fund manager and analyst at STANLIB and as Associate Director in the M&A advisory team at i capital.

Alon holds extensive sectoral knowledge across mining, energy transition, and industrial decarbonisation, offering insight into the evolving dynamics of resource and capital markets.

Find out more about Alon Olsha HERE.

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