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Ardent Listener
Administrator
USA
4841 Posts |
 Posted - 09/01/2009 : 18:41:26
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China eyes rare metal exports ban
World faces hi-tech crunch as China eyes ban on rare metal exports
Beijing is drawing up plans to prohibit or restrict exports of rare earth metals that are produced only in China and play a vital role in cutting edge technology, from hybrid cars and catalytic converters, to superconductors, and precision-guided weapons.
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
Published: 5:58PM BST 24 Aug 2009
Comments 60 | Comment on this article
China mines over 95pc of the world?s rare earth minerals and is looking to hoard its resources.
A draft report by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has called for a total ban on foreign shipments of terbium, dysprosium, yttrium, thulium, and lutetium. Other metals such as neodymium, europium, cerium, and lanthanum will be restricted to a combined export quota of 35,000 tonnes a year, far below global needs.
China mines over 95pc of the world’s rare earth minerals, mostly in Inner Mongolia. The move to hoard reserves is the clearest sign to date that the global struggle for diminishing resources is shifting into a new phase. Countries may find it hard to obtain key materials at any price.
Alistair Stephens, from Australia’s rare metals group Arafura, said his contacts in China had been shown a copy of the draft -- `Rare Earths Industry Devlopment Plan 2009-2015’. Any decision will be made by China’s State Council.
“This isn’t about the China holding the world to ransom. They are saying we need these resources to develop our own economy and achieve energy efficiency, so go find your own supplies”, he said.
Mr Stephens said China had put global competitors out of business in the early 1990s by flooding the market, leading to the closure of the biggest US rare earth mine at Mountain Pass in California - now being revived by Molycorp Minerals.
New technologies have since increased the value and strategic importance of these metals, but it will take years for fresh supply to come on stream from deposits in Australia, North America, and South Africa. The rare earth family are hard to find, and harder to extract.
Mr Stephens said Arafura’s project in Western Australia produces terbium, which sells for $800,000 a tonne. It is a key ingredient in low-energy light-bulbs. China needs all the terbium it produces as the country switches wholesale from tungsten bulbs to the latest low-wattage bulbs that cut power costs by 40pc.
No replacement has been found for neodymium that enhances the power of magnets at high heat and is crucial for hard-disk drives, wind turbines, and the electric motors of hybrid cars. Each Toyota Prius uses 25 pounds of rare earth elements. Cerium and lanthanum are used in catalytic converters for diesel engines. Europium is used in lasers.
Blackberries, iPods, mobile phones, plams TVs, navigation systems, and air defence missiles all use a sprinkling of rare earth metals. They are used to filter viruses and bacteria from water, and cleaning up Sarin gas and VX nerve agents.
Arafura, Mountain Pass, and Lynas Corp in Australia, will be able to produce some 50,000 tonnes of rare earth metals by the mid-decade but that is not enough to meet surging world demand.
New uses are emerging all the time, and some promise quantum leaps in efficiency. The Tokyo Institute of Technology has made a breakthrough in superconductivity using rare earth metals that lower the friction on power lines and could slash electricity leakage.
The Japanese government has drawn up a “Strategy for Ensuring Stable Supplies of Rare Metals”. It calls for `stockpiling’ and plans for “securing overseas resources’. The West has yet to stir.
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Think positive. |
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redneck
1000+ Penny Miser Member
1273 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2009 : 19:46:07
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quote:
Mr Stephens said Arafura’s project in Western Australia produces terbium, which sells for $800,000 a tonne.
I guess it's time to build "Redneck's Terbium Processor"...
Pre-orders are now being accepted.
Sulfuric acid,caustic soda,ammonium oxalate,nitric acid,annealing oven,ion exchange unit and vacuum remelting furnace not included.
Some assembly required.
>
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On a serious note.
We now rely on other countries for the bulk of our raw industrial materials. (thanks to outsourcing) This is not good for us, not good at all.
For them however,it will further solidify their #1 position in the world for raw materials and manufacturing for the foreseeable future.
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fb101
Administrator
USA
2856 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2009 : 21:35:35
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quote:
Mr Stephens said Arafura’s project in Western Australia produces terbium, which sells for $800,000 a tonne. It is a key ingredient in low-energy light-bulbs. China needs all the terbium it produces as the country switches wholesale from tungsten bulbs to the latest low-wattage bulbs that cut power costs by 40pc.
This wouldn't be those bulbs were being forced to switch to in another year is it?
So they'll be $50 for a light bulb? |
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Neckro
1000+ Penny Miser Member
Saudi Arabia
2080 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2009 : 21:56:37
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| So those CFL bulbs? |
Trolling is an art. |
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AGgressive Metal
Administrator
USA
1937 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2009 : 22:35:46
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| I have been thinking about a concept for the last several months of forming a organization/club/council of patriotic Americans (or Canadians as your case may be - we're allies) who buy and store strategic metals (individually, not collectively) in order to make sure there is adequate short-term military supply in the event of a war with a major producer of strategic metals. In the event of a conflict and the ensuing domestic shortage, the members would then agree to release some of their stock to the government or government contract military manufacturers at a price that is profitable, but not exorbetant, in order to allow our military to have the tech it needs to win. Basically, just an organization that does what our government is probably too stupid to have the foresight to do, but we are patriotic enough to have thought of. There is really no downside, since strategic metals are probably a good investment no matter what (although they are volatile). |
And he that hath lyberte ought to kepe hit wel / For nothyng is better than lyberte / For lyberte shold not be wel sold for alle the gold and syluer of all the world.
-Caxton's edition of Aesop's Fables, 1484 |
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Cupronickel
Penny Pincher Member
USA
110 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2009 : 20:20:42
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| Reading some old chemistry texts from the 1960's, it may be amusing to find that the main use of REE's was in cigarette lighter "flints" (mischmetal, mainly cerium). |
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PennyPauper
Penny Collector Member
USA
395 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2009 : 01:08:10
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The ree's are very interesting elements.With geology a side interest of mine I've done a little research over time.There is almost no production outside of china,except a half dozen companies.
Some of the elements can be considered strategic to our gov't,or at least vital for aircraft and high technology.Reports over at least two years have seen this coming.
For awhile I held some shares of great western minerals group You must be logged in to see this link. before etrade fees killed that idea.They made some good moves in buying a company that already had contracts with toyota.So looks like they can sell what they mine.
And everybody wants a hybrid car now,so who knows.But you may shell out much more for one very soon.
The Molycorp site was once owned by a big oil company,which if I remember correctly had to do a cleanup or was fined for something,maybe someone in California could chime in.And may be hard to invest in. You must be logged in to see this link.
Lynas Corp in Australia I had looked at as next best over the long term.With a plant in Malaysia they can get material to market.
With arafura further behind but in the game.
There are other co's with claims in the U.S. & Canada but they are still doing studies on their claims and no where near production
Wyoming and Nevada have good hopes but not even the USGS can say whats there for sure.Let's hope the military has what it needs for now.China may be able to turn our lights out,and stunt our technology development without firing a shot nearterm,we have no stockpiles,unlikely but possible. You must be logged in to see this link. The new 'green' jobs might start in the mines.
Although the Lanthanides are not as rare as thought,it is rare to find them in high concentrations.The minerals bastnäsite and monazite contain REE's with the latter also found with the radioactive element thorium.Which may lead to new development in nuclear reactor fuels which make it harder to develop weapons grade material from the waste,a possible solution for providing new reactors in developing or not so freindly countries.Last time i read up on this thorium power had deals with india with the U.S. gov't blessing.Here's their site You must be logged in to see this link.
I may have to reinvest some of my penny hoard,and PM's back in the market,even though I beleive wall street is fixed against the little guys.
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Cupronickel
Penny Pincher Member
USA
110 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2009 : 20:34:28
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^^^
Good point on REE deposits that don't contain thorium. Thorium content can really muck up a lot of US deposits that would be fairly promising, like Llano, TX, several sites in the Eastern US and the monazite sand deposits off Florida. I think these must be exploited sooner or later, pending a cheap way of separating the thorium, which eventually will be looked at as a nuclear fuel. |
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China eyes rare metal exports ban
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