Rare earths are a set of 17 metallic elements on the periodic table, including lanthanum, cerium and neodymium. Despite the word “rare,” they are not scarce. Their distribution and difficulty in refining make them strategic resources.
The minerals have unique magnetic, optical and catalytic properties and are therefore widely used in high-tech industries, especially in electric vehicles (EVs), wind power generation, semiconductors and military equipment.
Amid a global trend toward energy transition and technological development, the importance of rare earths is increasing, making them key resources that countries are competing to control.
As a global technological powerhouse, Taiwan’s demand for rare earths mainly comes from the electronics, communications and green energy industries.
The elements are also needed in the semiconductor manufacturing process to make high-performance magnets and special materials, while LCDs, LEDs, fiber-optic communications lines also rely on rare earths to improve optical and conductive properties.
In the EV industry, demand for high-performance permanent magnets is increasing, making rare earths one of the core technologies for motors. Wind turbines also rely on powerful magnets made from rare earths to improve their power generation efficiency.
However, due to Taiwan’s lack of rare earth minerals and long-term reliance on imports from China and Japan, the supply chain is highly at risk, presenting an urgent need to develop alternative solutions.
France and Japan have cooperated to promote a rare earths recycling program and built a large rare earths recycling facility in Lacq in southwestern France that is expected to be completed next year. It would be able to recycle 800 tonnes of magnets and produce 620 tonnes of rare earth oxides annually, accounting for 15 percent of global demand.
The program, supported by the French and Japanese governments with a total investment of more than 100 million euros (US$115 million), would establish a long-term supply chain with the automotive industry to reduce dependence on rare earths from China.
The factory would not only improve the efficiency of recycling rare earths, but also demonstrate Europe’s and Japan’s strategic supply mechanism, setting a significant example for the rare earths recycling industry.
In the past few years, Taiwan has also invested in research on rare earths recycling technology and has begun to explore the “urban mining” model to extract rare earths from discarded electronic products and industrial waste.
However, compared with large-scale recycling programs in France and Japan, Taiwan’s recycling technology and industrial scale are still in the early stages of development.
Taiwan could learn from the experiences of France and Japan, strengthen research and development cooperation among industry, government and academia, establish a complete rare earths recycling industry chain, and introduce advanced technologies and equipment through international cooperation.
The government should provide policy and financial support to encourage companies to engage in the recycling industry and establish rare earths recycling standards to improve recycling rates and industry competitiveness. Only through autonomous recycling and supply diversification can Taiwan effectively reduce its dependence on imported rare earths and ensure the sustainable development of key industries.
Elliot Yao is a reviewer.
Translated by Lin Lee-kai
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