What are the uses of Rare Earth Metals (REMs) in Defense?

Usage of Rare Earth Elements (REE) in Emerging technologies

· They are being used in anything and everything that comes out as an innovative product nowadays for example from I-phones to I-TV and many other devices that people use every day such as computer memory, DVDs, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, catalytic converters, magnets, fluorescent lighting and much more.

· These are used for air pollution control, illuminated screens on electronic devices, and the polishing of optical-quality glass.

What is rare earth dilemma?

· The extraction of REMs is one of the most environmentally negative and toxic generating of all mining practices.

· Disproportionate rare earth mining has resulted into landslides, clogged rivers, environmental pollution emergencies and even major accidents and disasters, causing great damage to people’s safety and health and the ecological environment.

· China produces tens of millions of tons of wastewater every year while extracting rare earth minerals.

· Therefore, it’s a dilemma that is we really having better lifestyle using these materials in emerging technologies or we polluting our environment in the process too much!

Global Uses and Production of Rare Earth Elements (REE)

Analysis of supply demand of REE

· Currently, China has control over 94% in producing and mining REMs and further china has very high natural reserves for these. As per some recent reports, China is even buying these reserve in others countries and regions to have a monopoly over production for a very long time. And due to these very reasons, it has become very critical metal for India since India is not having enough resources and it further suffers technological constraints in mining its own reserves of REEs.

· A study, conducted by the think-tank Council on Energy Environment and Water, identifies 12 minerals out of 49 that were evaluated as ‘most critical’ for India’s manufacturing sector by 2030. These are beryllium, chromium, germanium, limestone, niobium, graphite, rare earth, rhenium, strontium, tantalum and zirconium. Other minerals like limestone and graphite, while currently abundantly available in India, are deemed ‘critical’ because extractable resources could be scarce in the future.

· For others, the report says, India is 100 percent import-dependent for seven out of 12 identified critical minerals and does not have any declared resources for them,except light rare earth (found along with monazite sands) and beryllium.

What is the future use of Rare Earth Metals?

· The global demand for automobiles, consumer electronics, energy-efficient lighting, and catalysts is expected to rise rapidly over the next decade. REMs are critical raw material for future of these technologies/industries.

· Rare earth magnet demand is expected to increase due to the rise in demand for rechargeable batteries.

· New developments in medical technology are expected to increase the use of surgical lasers, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography scintillation detectors.

· Future military and navy arsenals may utilize REMs for better efficiency and handling.