New Chinese export restrictions on rare earths underline the need for a more flexible EU policy
On August 15, 2024, China's Ministry of Commerce announced that export controls on antimony would come into effect from September 15. This is the latest in a series of export restrictions by China, which dominates the world's rare earth mining and processing. Antimony is used in the production of flame retardants, lead-acid batteries and as an alloy for […]
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The current uranium supply situation: A comprehensive overview
The current situation of uranium supply: A comprehensive overview Uranium is an essential element for global energy production, especially for nuclear power, which currently covers about 10% of the world's electricity needs. With the growing interest in clean energy and the reduction of CO2 emissions, nuclear energy is playing an increasingly important role. The supply of uranium is therefore […]
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Scandium: From Soviet Secrets to China's Monopoly
Scandium: From Soviet secret to Chinese monopoly Because of the potentially high demand for climate technologies such as the hydrogen industry, the West is trying to produce its own production of the expensive rare earth metal. The aerospace and automotive industries could benefit from a safe and cheap supply of scandium. A week ago the second trilogue meeting on Critical Raw Materials took place in Brussels […]
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Export controls on gallium and germanium: “China wants to negotiate”
Export controls on gallium and germanium: “China wants to negotiate” The export controls imposed by China on the high-tech elements gallium and germanium in the summer sent the economy into panic. According to a China expert, China only wants to gain room for negotiation in the technology war with this step. Just 430 tons of gallium and around 225 tons of germanium were produced worldwide in 2022. Nonetheless […]
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Rare earths: China is firmly in the saddle, despite the Pentagon investing millions
Rare earths: China is firmly in the saddle, despite millions in investments by the Pentagon China is closely guarding its dominant position in rare earths and the production of permanent magnets, which are relevant for climate technologies and the military. An Asia expert warns that China is exerting influence on western industry, which hardly exists, through hidden ties. Mike Pompeo traveled […]
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E-car batteries: Nickel from Indonesia instead of Russia
E-car batteries: Nickel from Indonesia instead of Russia The demand for nickel for cathodes will multiply by 2030. So far, the emerging EU battery industry has been dependent on Russian nickel. Because of the war in Ukraine, nickel from Indonesia is very popular. There, however, mining threatens primeval forests and isolated indigenous peoples. Joko Widodo's popularity limited […]
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New bioeconomy funding program
New funding program bioeconomy - biorefineries for the extraction of raw materials from waste and wastewater: “Bio-Ab-Cycling” As part of the new ERDF funding program “Bioeconomy”, the Ministry of the Environment supports the construction and implementation of modular “biorefineries” with environmental technologies and bio-intelligent solutions scientific support. In the biorefineries ("Bio"), waste or wastewater ("Ab") should be used as raw material sources and the [...]
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USA on the long road to independence from China
The US is having a hard time breaking its dependence on Chinese rare earths The US Department of Defense has just promised to finance two rare earth separation facilities on US soil. It's a small step towards the Trump administration's stated goal of breaking the country's reliance on Chinese supplies of critical minerals. But the direct [...]
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The negotiations between the US and Australia on rare earth mines outside of China are energetically pursued
Negotiations between the USA and Australia on rare earth mines outside of China are being vigorously pursued MELBOURNE (BLOOMBERG) - Australia is holding independent talks with the United States, Japan and South Korea about the development of local rare earth mine projects in order to increase production outside of China Materials dominated, support. Rare earths, a group of 17 elements that [...]
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In the middle of the US-Chinese trade war, the US hopes to forge Canada for a commodity alliance
In the midst of the US-China trade war, the US is courting Canada to forge a raw materials alliance Canada has a lot to offer the US when it comes to the supply of critical minerals. President Donald Trump's offer to buy Greenland was not well received by either the inhabitants of the world's largest island or Denmark, [...]
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