commentist t1_jahdg24 wrote on March 1, 2023 at 1:25 PM

Reply to comment by Sumfuc in German scientists show a commercially feasible method for cyanobacteria to extract 17 rare earth elements from low-concentration sources. Currently, most of the world's supply of these elements is mined in China. by lughnasadh

If I remember correctly world can switch fairly quickly from China right now if we want to. It is extremely environment unfriendly process so while China doing for reasonable price no one cares.

exit2dos t1_jahh9ie wrote on March 1, 2023 at 1:56 PM

It could if it had the refinery capabilities. China is set to continue enjoying an 80% share of the global refining of the vital metals, but tech like this may change that dynamic, quicker than China hopes. The US, UK and Canada are all in process of constructing facilities, that I am aware of, but likely more.

Gusdai t1_jai2430 wrote on March 1, 2023 at 4:20 PM

It takes a couple of years to shift, because it takes a lot of infrastructure (and planning) to mine and refine.

But remember when China talked of export quotas on these minerals, to punish certain countries (Japan at the time)? That was a couple of years ago, and countries started developing their own supply already, because they understood the problem. So China doesn't have the same leverage anymore.