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The end of 2010 witnessed the first mine blast since 2002 at Molycorp’s Mountain Pass bastnaesite mine in California; the company plans to produce 20,000 tpa REO by 2012. |
Rare earth elements (REE) have been in international headlines for the last two years, mostly owing to a succession of Chinese export quota limitations. China is also consolidating the number of its REE producing companies in Inner Mongolia to one, Baotou Iron & Steel Group Co. and imposing tougher environmental and health and safety regulations, along with increasing taxation for REE producers.
This is a complex and intriguing topic, involving technical and commercial considerations, and environmental, financial, social, legal and political issues.
However, this scenario is expected to continue to cause severe international concerns at least for the next couple of years.Resources & supplyREE are not rare at all, but are difficult to exploit owing to geographical and...