New Delhi, July 19: China has become geopolitically more ambitious with its objective no longer merely to dominate rare earth production at home but also control the global industry by deciding which countries receive the technology, technicians and market access required to compete, according to Jack Lifton, Co-Chair, Critical Minerals Institute (CMI).
In an article in Investor News, he points out that China’s strategy for Malaysia and Indonesia are clear indicators of this new policy.
Malaysia has prohibited exports of its unprocessed rare earth material, thereby requiring domestic value addition, while inviting both Chinese and non-Chinese investment.
Since then, Malaysia’s non-Chinese industrial base has become more formidable. Carester and Malaco have announced plans for a Malaysian rare earth separation operation, while Lynas and South Korea’s JS Link are proceeding with a 3,000-tonne-per-year sintered NdFeB magnet facility near the Lynas plant. (IANS)
