The Island nation plans to expand domestic processing capacities and is seeking feedstock material.
Taiwan plans to dispatch officials to the United States to evaluate rare earth deposits, part of a broader strategy to secure critical minerals and strengthen its domestic supply chain, Economy Minister Kung Ming-hsin announced Wednesday, according to Reuters.
The assessment mission will be conducted by Taiwan’s Geological Survey and Mining Management Agency, focusing on identifying which rare earth elements are present and whether they meet Taiwan’s industrial needs. The island nation is home to one of the most sophisticated semiconductor industries in the world, where rare earths are used in wafer polishing or doped glass, for example. While Taiwan does not mine rare earths domestically, the island aims to refine imported materials, leveraging its advanced processing capabilities.
The trip comes after Taiwan announced plans earlier this month to build a pilot-scale rare earth production line within three years. A scaled-up version would be capable of supplying about 50% of domestic demand, government officials said. The initiative has attracted strong interest from the United States, which is seeking to diversify its critical mineral supply chains away from China.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Taiwan’s domestic mineral resources are limited, with mining employing just about 1,000 people. The island has historically relied on imported ores, refined into steel, petroleum products, and other materials, making its processing sector far more significant than extraction.
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