German media: It is too difficult to produce rare earths in Europe

Chinese Foreign Minister said during a visit to Berlin that rare earth exports have never been, and should not become, an issue between China and Europe. Germany has already had production lines shut down due to the tight supply of rare earths. The weekly magazine "Der Spiegel" and "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" have focused on this point.

The article in "Der Spiegel" reads:

"Stanic, a raw materials expert from the German Industry Association (BDI), stated: Because the supply chain is relatively stable, Beijing can provide large amounts of raw materials to the world market at any time, causing price fluctuations. Therefore, for Western companies, investing in mining and processing carries a high risk. This BDI expert said that establishing this industry cannot do without state funding. Despite the state's support, Germany has made little progress. About a year ago, the German government provided 1 billion euros for a raw material fund. However, Stanic criticized that no projects have been selected yet, nor has any raw material been produced. German Economy Minister Reichen said last week that the tight supply of rare earths has led to some production lines being shut down. The ministry was unwilling to answer specific questions about how many companies were affected. A spokesperson said that the German government coordinates with the EU, [emphasizing the critical situation of German companies through all channels]".

"Krumm, a senior figure in the rare earth industry who has lived in China for 20 years, said: 'Europe has tried for more than ten years to solve this problem. But it always emphasizes the need to be green and sustainable,' he said. 'That is meaningless.' The mining and separation of rare earths produce radioactive waste. 'If Europe wants to get rid of its dependence, it must make concessions on environmental requirements,' Krumm said. ... [If you want to mine the rare earth deposits in Norway, it will take five years. If the relevant authorities cooperate]".

The article states: "Now, 90% of the refining plants are in China, and the proportion of permanent magnet production is even higher. However, China's mineral deposits only account for one-third of the world's total."

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836759373817856/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author."