RARE EARTH ELEMENTS
1.Context
Amid the ongoing U.S.–China trade war, Chinese authorities have reportedly imposed export controls on rare earth elements (REEs) and magnets that are needed in a range of manufacturing activities, from semiconductor fabrication units to defence equipment. This has been one of the more recent salvos in the trade war between the two countries, but the export restrictions apply to any Chinese refinery that can export refined rare earths outside the country.
2.About rare earth metals
Rare earth elements or rare earth metals are a set of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table the 15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium, which tend to occur in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides, and have similar chemical properties
| The 17 rare earths are cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho), lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and yttrium (Y) |
Despite their classification, most of these elements are not really “rare”. One of the rare earths, promethium, is radioactive
Source:Thermo Fisher Scientific
3.Applications of rare earths
- These elements are important in technologies of consumer electronics, computers and networks, communications, clean energy, advanced transportation, healthcare, environmental mitigation, and national defence, among others
- Scandium is used in televisions and fluorescent lamps, and yttrium is used in drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis and cancer
- Rare earth elements are used in space shuttle components, jet engine turbines, and drones
- Cerium, the most abundant rare earth element, is essential to NASA’s Space Shuttle Programme
- In recent years, rare earths have become even more important because there has been an increase in demand for green energy
- Elements like neodymium and dysprosium, which are used in wind turbine motors, are sought-after more than ever as wind mills across the world continue to grow
- Moreover, the push for switching from internal combustion cars to electric vehicles has also led to a rise in demand for rare earth magnets made from neodymium, boron, and iron and batteries
4. China's export restrictions and impact on India
- China has imposed restrictions on the export of seven rare earth elements (REEs) — dysprosium, gadolinium, lutetium, samarium, scandium, terbium, and yttrium — which are part of the 17 REEs.
- The country dominates the global refining of heavy REEs, giving it substantial control over critical supply chains, ranging from consumer electronics to defense. Although these measures do not constitute a complete export ban, they may cause temporary supply disruptions, as exporters navigate the permit process.
- India may not face an immediate disruption due to these restrictions. Despite government efforts to enhance domestic manufacturing of semiconductors and defense systems, the more sophisticated phases of production largely take place abroad, particularly in China and Japan. Japan, in anticipation of such issues, has already built stockpiles to buffer against REE-related supply shocks.
- Recognizing the strategic importance of REEs, India is aware that it holds around 6% of global deposits. However, the country’s capacity for mining and refining is minimal, largely due to the environmental challenges associated with such operations.
- India does extract some light REEs through its state-run firm, Indian Rare Earths Ltd, including monazite from coastal sands in Kerala. Nonetheless, imports still play a role.
- According to a recent statement by the Ministry of Mines in the Lok Sabha, India imported approximately 2,270 tonnes of REEs in 2023–24. Consequently, the national approach involves a mix of increasing domestic output and maintaining import channels
5. Way Forward
To support the strategic use of essential resources such as rare earth elements, India has launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM). This initiative aims to strengthen the country’s supply chain for critical minerals by boosting domestic production and establishing alternative international supply partnerships. According to a presentation by the Ministry of Mines in January, global events like China’s export restrictions, the Russia–Ukraine conflict, and other geopolitical factors have exposed vulnerabilities in the global critical mineral supply, underscoring the urgency of diversifying sources.
As part of the NCMM, the Indian government plans to oversee or support around 1,200 mineral exploration projects. It also intends to offer exploration licenses to encourage private sector participation and conduct auctions for additional critical mineral blocks
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For Prelims: Applications of rare earths, rare earth elements
For Mains:
1.Europe’s largest known deposit of rare earth elements found in Sweden: Could the discovery change geopolitics?
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Previous Year Questions
1.Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called ‘rare earth metals’. Why? (2012)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only Answer (c)
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Source:indianexpress
