Global sustainability of rare earth metals and compounds

Abstract

Rare earths metals, including yttrium and scandium, are being increasingly used in clean energy technologies, colored phosphors, lasers and high intensity magnets. The commitment to clean energy technologies by governments and the projected growth in power and transportation sectors across the globe ensure that the demand for rare earth metals and compounds would continue to escalate. This demand implies that, to ensure unhindered technological innovation, it is essential to possess secure supply chains for rare earth elements. In order to ensure secure rare earth supply and attenuate supply-demand imbalance post 2014, it is of utmost importance to look at opportunities to process intelligently, recycle and reuse Rare Earth Elements from secondary sources, such as post-consumer and manufacturing process wastes. It is anticipated that China’s control on rare-earth market will drop from over 90% to below 70% by 2017.