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Thursday 27 June 2013
10:20:00 am 0

Importance of Rare Earth Elements in Global Economics and Politics

As defined by IUPAC, rare earth elements ("REEs") or rare earth metals are a set of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, specifically the fifteen lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium. Scandium and yttrium are considered rare earth elements since they tend to occur in the sameore deposits as the lanthanides and exhibit similar chemical properties
Terms like "rare metals" and "rare elements" have no clear definition, and often include REEs. What makes these metals them vitally important to our economy is that they enable modern technologies. For example, rare earth magnets are much more powerful than ferrite ones of similar sizes, which enables miniaturization of things like motors.

Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission
These magnets are used in hard drives, cd players, cell phone vibrating alerts, and headphones. More interesting is their uses in energy and defence applications. Wind turbines use around 1000kg of neodymium per megawatt; smart missiles use them for steering; and they provide the motors for electric cars. Rare earth phosphors are used in low-energy lighting to provide more natural illumination.


Source: planbeconomics.com
Lithium is another important metal, which traditionally has been used in glass and ceramics, and as a lubricant. Lithium demand is skyrocketing because of its use in rechargeable batteries for both transportation and electric grid enhancement. These uses are also driving increased demand in other associated materials, like cobalt, vanadium and more.
I like to use the analogy that these metals are like yeast in bread. In terms of quantity and cost, they often contribute very little, but if you don't have them, you get crackers.
Source: US Department of Energy

Rare Metals and REE are difficult to extract in an economically-viable and environmentally-sound manner. Furthermore there are major differences between heavy and light REE.  Comment ???
Mining rare earths is very different from other metals. It is a multistep process that, if not executed properly, can have significant externalities. Rare earths are often found along with radioactive elements like thorium, which requires appropriate handling and storage. Interestingly, thorium can also be used as an excellent nuclear power fuel. Modern extraction processes like the ones being developed in the US and Australia are carried out in an environmentally responsible manner. China, which produces the lion's share of these metals, has historically had poor enforcement of its environmental regulations. This is changing as China consolidates its control over the rare earth industry.
Light rare earths are those found to the "left" of Europium or Gadolinium (depending on who you ask), while the "heavies" are found to the right (along with Yttrium). The rare earths are found all together, but with different concentrations. Lights are more common, and heavies are more rare. However, heavies, like Dysprosium are of great importance.

Light rare earths are those found to the "left" of Europium or Gadolinium (depending on who you ask), while the "heavies" are found to the right (along with Yttrium). The rare earths are found all together, but with different concentrations. Lights are more common, and heavies are more rare. However, heavies, like Dysprosium are of great importance

The US used to be a major producer of REE though now most of these resources are produced in China. How did that happen and what has been the effect of this shift in production? Are there countries other than China that benefit from the importance of REE? Will we see new cartels like OPEC form to maintain prices and supply?
While China produces nearly all the world's rare earths, it has only a third of the reserves. Early on, the Chinese government at the highest levels recognized the strategic importance of rare earths, and used various methods to support the domestic industry. The former premier, Deng Xiaoping is famously quoted as saying that "The Middle East has oil, and China has rare earths." They achieved their dominance through poor environmental stewardship, trade intervention, and the fact that the largest source of rare earths is not a rare earth mine, but rather an iron mine that produces rare earths as a by-product.
Source: energydispatches.com
The effect has been that, until now, producing elsewhere has not been feasible. However, demand has been growing within China, and so export restrictions have been put in place. As a result, prices of the rare earths have fluctuated wildly, and the world is waking up to the fact that dependence on a single source of economically critical materials is a dangerous situation. Currently, no other country benefits as much as China, which has created tens of thousands of rare earth scientists.
As the US brings on renewed production of rare earths, and other mines in Australia, Canada and elsewhere begin operating, we will see a shift towards a more diverse supply. However, China will continue to be a major player. It has attempted to purchase international companies with reserves, and is a major consumer of these materials. The Chinese government has also started a "Trade Association" which will set production quotas and help to control pricing, which is quite reminiscent of OPEC's activities.
China has had a quota on rare earths for a number of years, despite the practice not being allowed under their accession to the World Trade Organization. However, what caught the world's attention in 2010 was the geopolitical aspect of resource control. China has long standing territorial disputes with Japan over the East China Sea, and with Southeast Asia over the South China Sea, largely because of oil reserves.
In 2010, the Japanese arrested a Chinese fishing crew for entering disputed territory, and reports emerged about shipments of rare earths no longer leaving China for Japan which depends on these materials for its technology industry. Subsequent statements were released by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton over America's support of Southeast Asia in the South China Sea. Soon, rare earths stopped being shipped to the US. This situation, which the Chinese government officially denied influencing, lasted for a couple of weeks, until Japan relented and sent the captain of the fishing trawler home.



Source : 1. wikipedia
              2. kwrintl.com 

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