China stood center stage this week in the world of raw materials. On Thursday, the People’s Republic announced that antimony will join gallium, germanium, and graphite in China’s list of export-controlled goods from 15 September. The consultancy Wood Mackenzie meanwhile argues in a new report that the global energy transition would be challenging without China—the details in our roundup.
China: Export Restrictions for Antimony
Antimony and multiple related products are set to join gallium, germanium, and graphite in China’s list of export-controlled goods, the Ministry of Commerce announced Thursday. The People’s Republic imposed restrictions on the three raw materials just over a year ago. Similar to the announcement in 2023, the move is justified on the grounds of national security, as the listed goods are considered dual-use, meaning they can be used for both civilian and military purposes. Export licenses will be required to ship antimony or antimony-related products abroad from 15 September.
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Norra Kärr: Strategic Project Application Submitted
Leading Edge Materials wants the Norra Kärr rare earth deposit recognized as a strategic project under the Critical Raw Materials Act. The Canadian company has now applied for this. Strategic projects benefit from an accelerated permitting process that, according to the legislators, should only take a maximum of 27 months in the case of new mines.
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Report: No Energy Transition Without China?
Copper has been used for thousands of years, but the growing demand from the energy transition will overshadow previous developments. This will inevitably increase China’s importance, as the country has been investing in expanding smelting and processing capacities for the metal for years. In a new study, the analysis company Wood Mackenzie examines China’s market position and its relevance for the success of the transformation to climate neutrality.
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U.S. And Ukraine Discuss Closer Cooperation on Critical Minerals
The Ukraine Ministry of Economy hosted a U.S. delegation on Monday, discussing closer cooperation on critical minerals, among other things. According to a press release by the ministry, Ukraine seeks to attract American businesses to enter the country’s mineral extraction and processing sectors. Ukraine hosts the largest titanium reserves in Europe and has substantial reserves of other raw materials, such as magnesium and graphite.
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