Aluminum resource entitlements realignment: Empowering non-resource nations through listed mining company shareholding

Abstract

Aluminum, as a strategic mineral resource, plays a critical role in the development and strategic maneuvers of major nations. Owing to the uneven distribution of aluminum mines, countries seek to expand their national mineral resource entitlements through various economic mechanisms. Shareholding relationships reveal intricate economic ties between nations, offering a novel analytical angle for examining national mineral resource dependence and economic influence. This paper is based on shareholding relationships and constructs a global aluminum resource bipartite shareholding complex network from a listed mining company shareholding perspective, uncovers shareholders and their national affiliations, and discusses the impact of shareholding relationships on the global aluminum resource entitlements structure and community distributions. Our findings indicate that domestic shareholders hold the most of aluminum resource entitlements. Over 90 % of aluminum resource entitlements are concentrated in ten countries, with Australia and Indonesia holding the highest entitlements ranks. Aluminum resource entitlements are influenced by factors such as resource endowment, technological level, and economic activity. Investment in foreign shareholdings can increase the resource entitlements of countries with insufficient resource endowments. The United States, for example, has elevated its aluminum resource entitlements ranking through extensive foreign investments. Our research extends the theory of resource entitlements and provides significant academic contributions and practical guidance for ensuring resource supply security and promoting effective international resource management.