Strategic analyst Irina Patrahau has been appointed as the new Chair of the Energy Security initiative and Critical Minerals programme within the broader Geoeconomics research pillar of HCSS.
Irina’s work is focused on the impact of geopolitical tensions and strategic competition on the security and resilience of energy and raw materials supply chains in the EU. Her work also centers on the political economy of the energy transition, including emerging clean tech markets and low-carbon supply chains, and the implications for critical energy infrastructure and the decarbonization of energy intensive industries.
Patrahau: “The importance of building more resilient de-risked supply chains for our energy sector is growing together with the increasingly tense geopolitical landscape. Europe’s future competitiveness and industrial transformation depend on secure supplies of raw materials, clean tech, and low-carbon fuels, both imported from reliable partners and produced domestically. These days it is not always clear what constitutes a reliable partner, but it’s our job to research risks and opportunities to help policymakers and industry make informed decisions.”
In addition to geoeconomic topics, Irina is also part of broader HCSS work on the climate-security nexus. She is part of the Water, Peace and Security Partnership, a consortium that seeks to address water-related security challenges through innovative tools and services.