Let's getting moving on rare metals

China, which mines over 95pc of the world’s rare earth minerals, is drawing up plans to prohibit or restrict exports of rare earth metals that are produced only in China and play a vital role in cutting edge technology, from hybrid cars and catalytic converters, to superconductors, and precision-guided weapons. A draft report by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has called for a total ban on foreign shipments of terbium, dysprosium, yttrium, thulium, and lutetium. Other metals such as neodymium, europium, cerium, and lanthanum will be restricted to a combined export quota of 35,000 tonnes a year, far below global needs. READ MORE

Malawi is reputed to have quite a range of rare metals, especially in Kangalunde READ MORE. We ought to get into action. Only recently there were reports that mining n Kangalunde had been held up for three years over some legal disputes.