Rare earth elements, vital for clean energy, advanced technology, and defense, have emerged as a geopolitical focal point. There are 17 main rare earth elements, including critical ones like neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, essential for magnets, clean energy technologies, and advanced electronics. While China supplies 85–95% of the world’s refined rare earth minerals and dominates EV battery supply chains, countries like Vietnam (19%), Brazil (18%), Russia (10%), India (6%), Australia (3%), the United States (1%), and Greenland (1%) hold significant untapped reserves. However, a lack of refining infrastructure outside China has left the global market heavily dependent on Beijing. With Western nations scrambling to diversify supplies and mitigate China’s control, the race to secure rare earths will define a critical factor in future geopolitical power.
My Take
The global dependency on China’s refining capabilities underscores the urgent need for nations to invest in rare earth extraction and refining infrastructure. Collaborative international partnerships could reduce costs, share risks, and create a more balanced market.
#RareEarths #CleanEnergy #Geopolitics #EVTechnology #SupplyChain #CriticalMinerals #Innovation #Sustainability
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Credit: OilPrice.com
This post was enhanced with AI assistance, thoroughly reviewed, edited, and reflects my own thoughts.