U.S. Funds Lab to Look for Solutions to Rare Earth Mineral Shortages
January 10th, 2013Via: Network World:
With China once again playing games with the rare earth materials it largely holds sway over, the US Department of Energy today said it would set up a research and development hub that will bring together all manner of experts to help address the situation.
The DOE awarded $120 million to Ames Laboratory to set up an Energy Innovation Hub that will develop solutions to the domestic shortages of rare earth metals and other materials critical for US energy security, the DOE stated.
China does not “hold sway” over the rare earth metals. While they may have around 1/3 of the world’s reserves they used to produce 95% of them. If the Sceptics, Australians etc. got off their arses they might start producing some, but hey, why do that when China was selling the stuff cheaply …