Strategic storage will reduce foreign dependence on China's rare earth

The dream of plundering China's rare earth resources at a low price in Europe, America, Japan and other countries is gradually being shattered. The start-up of the strategic collection and storage of rare earths in China and the use of export control measures will intensify the bursting of their dreams.

According to media reports, the strategic collection and storage of rare earths has started, and state financial funds will be collected and stored by enterprises. This is the first time China has started the strategic collection and storage of rare earths.

Prevent rare earth resources from being sold

According to the reporter’s understanding, China has long played the role of “the world’s only low-cost rare earth production and exporting country”. It sells the rare earth resources that belong to the golden grade as cabbage and carrot prices, while Europe, the United States, Japan, and other countries have a lot of low prices. Price acquisitions, hoarding China's rare earth resources.

The State Council Information Office released "China's rare earth conditions and policies" on June 20th, stating that China provides over 90% of the world's rare earth export supply with 23% of global reserves. However, at the same time of rapid development, China's rare earth industry also has some outstanding problems, which are mainly manifested in excessive exploitation of resources, severe environmental pollution, unreasonable industrial structure, and price distortions.

In order to protect valuable rare earth resources and ecological environment and prevent rare earth resources from being sold out, in recent years the country has strengthened the management of the mining, production, and export of rare earths, and adopted control measures such as quota export, but it has frequently been subjected to European, American, Japanese, etc. National censure. In particular, recently, the United States, the European Union and Japan have invited the WTO dispute settlement agency to set up an expert group to investigate the case of Chinese rare earth and other Raw Material export restrictions. The reason for their censure is simply that they still want to buy China's rare earth at the price of "cabbage."

Jia Yinsong, director of the Rare Earth Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said recently that China has implemented a reserve of rare earth resources. The first batch of 11 resources have been included in the state's planned mining area, and a special planning for key areas for rare earth resources planning has been completed.

The "State Council's Several Opinions on Promoting the Sustainable and Healthy Development of the Rare Earth Industry" released last May proposed the establishment of a rare earth strategic reserve system. In accordance with the combination of national reserves and corporate (commercial) reserves, physical reserves, and resources (land) reserves, a strategic reserve of rare earths will be established. The collection and storage of this time is the national reserve carried out by the relevant departments in accordance with the State Council's deployment.

Resources can be used in situ

Wang Caifeng, vice president of the China Rare Earth Industry Association, said in an interview with the China Economic Times that the strategic acquisition and storage of rare earths is of great significance to the development of China's rare earth industry. Strategic resource collection and storage can further improve and improve the construction of China's rare earth industrial system and protect China's rare earths. Products continue to occupy a pivotal position in the world's rare earth market, strengthen the international competitiveness of rare earths, and provide strong resources for the development of China's national economy in various fields. In addition, at present, China's strict environmental protection measures for rare earths will actually affect the production of enterprises in a small amount and reduce the output. The implementation of purchasing and storage is also beneficial to the export of higher prices in the international market.

However, she also stated that the price of rare earth storage and storage should be set by the market and enterprises, and through market recognition of products, this market includes both international and domestic markets. The strategic resource of rare earth is a global resource industry. All countries are strengthening communication and communication. Whether you admit it or not, decades of development show that rare earth exchanges and cooperation between countries have a very good foundation and are inseparable. . At present, the United States, France, Japan, South Korea, Canada and other countries have established rare earth smelting separation and application companies in China. Therefore, we should look at the storage and storage work with an open attitude.

Wang Caifeng believes that in the long run, it is necessary to adhere to the scientific development concept, rationally develop and utilize rare earth resources, and establish an orderly and good market order. Shouhu just solves some current needs. “It is better to put the product in the warehouse and place it in the in-situ reserves of the mineral resources. Because the rare earth products can be stored and stored in the short term, there may be no problem in the short term. For a long time, the product may deteriorate and the quality may be reduced. At the same time, the management cost must be increased. “Wang Caifeng said that the strategy of rare earth storage and storage is an emergency. A better way is to protect the rare earths in the mines and resources, and make good use of the reserves of resources and when they are used. "More importantly, relevant departments must do a good job in planning mineral resources."

The environmental cost of rare earth mining in China is startling. According to calculations, only the environmental pollution caused by the mining of rare earths in Quzhou alone has resulted in an environmental restoration and management cost of up to 38 billion yuan. In this regard, Wang Caifeng stated that the backward pool leaching and heap leaching rare earth production processes are objectively related to environmental damage, and the currently used in-situ leaching extraction process will also cause waste of resources and environmental damage, and rare earth development should be strengthened. Environmental governance, find suitable production technology, make the production process use a reasonable. Rare earth industry companies and scientific research institutions should speed up the research on new rare earth technology extraction technologies. Local governments should develop local rare earth resources in accordance with local regulations in accordance with relevant national regulations, instead of copying the techniques and mining methods used in certain places.

Helps to reduce the dependence of other countries on Chinese rare earth

Wang Caifeng told this reporter that China’s strategic purchase and storage will help reduce the dependence of other countries on China’s rare earth. With the enhancement of China’s awareness of resource conservation and the increase in awareness and awareness of environmental protection, China has adopted a strategy of strategically collecting and storing rare earths to reduce rare earth export quotas, and other countries have had to use their own rare earth resources. According to her introduction, the U.S. Molybdenum Company has already made plans to prepare for the production of 20,000 tons of rare earths this year, and plans to produce 40,000 tons next year. In the 1980s, the United States was the world’s largest supplier of rare earths. Its main products were mineral products that were exported to Japan and France for separation and processing.

In Wang Caifeng’s view, the United States now re-exploits rare earths, which not only solves its own use, but also a major resource for rare earth resources (the United States has about 15% of the world’s rare earth reserves). It is reported that resumption of rare earth mining plans also include Australia, Canada and other countries.

“It is expected that in the next three to five years, the dependence of the rest of the world on China’s rare earths will be reduced accordingly.” Wang Caifeng said that for our country, selling rare earths at a good price is certainly a good thing, but at the moment more consideration should be given to how to continue internationally. At the same time as market status, the promotion and application of domestic rare earths will be further strengthened. It is necessary to continue to do a good job in the application of rare earths in the traditional field, but also to speed up the development and application of rare earths in high-tech fields, and promote the upgrading of related industries, especially through the application of rare earths in high-tech fields to promote the development of new industries. The good use of rare earth resources can benefit the society, promote the growth of the national economy and generate new economic growth points.