The U.S. military may soon begin producing critical raw materials for its own needs, and Romania could emerge as a hub for rare earth processing. The second week of December brought several noteworthy developments. You will find the details in our roundup.
Critical Minerals: Small-Scale Refineries for the U.S. Military?
In March, Reuters reported that refineries for certain critical minerals could soon be built on U.S. military bases, a move aimed at breaking China’s dominance in this sensitive sector. According to new information from the agency, these plans are now gaining momentum. Small-scale refineries are being developed essentially for the U.S. Army’s own use, in collaboration with the Idaho National Laboratory and the mineral company Perpetua Resources.
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Rare Earths: Canada and the U.S. Join Forces Against China’s Dominance
Another step toward North American resource autonomy: The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), which operates Canada’s first rare earth refinery, has entered into a partnership with REalloys. The U.S.-based company is building a vertically integrated rare earth supply chain, from mining to magnets.
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China Reports Strong Growth in Rare Earth Exports
China’s exports of rare earths rose again in November, this time significantly, by more than 26 percent. According to data from the customs authority, 5,494 tons were shipped abroad, compared with 4,345.5 tons in October.
Since April, export controls have been in place for several elements in the rare earth group, including dysprosium and terbium. How exports of these specific materials developed in November will only become clear in a few weeks, when the authorities release the second data set for the past month.
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Rare Earths From Greenland – Processed in Romania?
US mining company Critical Metals Corp. (CRML) is developing the Tanbreez rare earth deposit in resource-rich Greenland. The material extracted there could soon be processed in Romania. CRML has announced a joint venture with Fabrica de Prelucrare a Concentratelor de Uraniu S.R.L. (FPCU), a subsidiary of Romania’s state-owned nuclear energy company Nuclearelectrica and a specialist in processing fuel-cycle materials.
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Yttrium Shortage: U.S. Government Steps In to Support Domestic Industry
According to Reuters, the U.S. government is supporting domestic gas-turbine manufacturer GE Vernova in securing its supply of critical raw materials. The effort centers on yttrium, a rare earth element used in protective coatings that enable gas-turbine components to withstand extreme temperatures. Yttrium is among the rare earths that have been subject to stringent export controls imposed by China, the dominant producer, since April.
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