The minerals known as rare earths are likely the most important, but least understood factor in our transition to a low-carbon, clean-energy future. They’re essential ingredients to just about every source of renewable energy and nearly every consumer electronic device we use today. (more…)

In the first part of this blog I looked at the metals currently considered critical among sector analysts, and those that UK consultancy Oakdene Hollins has identified as likely to remain or become critical in the next five to 10 years.

The potential for strong price growth among these (more…)

Is China and its rare earth supply restrictions actually doing cleantech a favor?

On the one hand, limiting the supply of these metals, which are used in the manufacture of many clean technologies, clearly isn’t great for the growth of the low carbon economy.

Swiss-based VC firm Mountain Cleantech says it’s a (more…)

A show of hands – who loved their high school chemistry class? Do you still remember the elements in the periodic table? Quick – what’s the symbol for Iron? How about Hydrogen?

OK. Those are easy: Fe and H.

What about Prometheum? or Ytterbium? (more…)

Seeking to secure reliable supplies of rare earths for the country’s growing industrial demand, South Korea is negotiating to open concessions in South African mines.

South Korea’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy said that the nation is seeking a formal agreement to (more…)

First, the bad news – China’s constrained rare earth supplies will be an “irreversible trend” and prices will remain at high levels, according to Zhang Zhong, general manager of Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare-Earth Hi-Tech Co.

Zhang should know, as his concern is China’s (more…)

Seeking to quell fears among its trading partners, Beijing has announced that it will keep its 2011 rare earths export quota at 2010 levels.

China currently supplies 97 percent of the world’s rare earth elements and has gained its market dominance by cutting prices of the materials. China (more…)