nuclear-news

Race for rare earths sparks concern about environmental damage 

More than 6,000 people living near a mine in Madagascar are locked in a dispute with
Rio Tinto over alleged environmental damage linked to the extraction of a
rare earth mineral key to modern industries. They have accused the mining
group’s subsidiary QIT Madagascar Minerals of contaminating waterways
with hazardous materials, including uranium, through the extraction of
ilmenite, used in paints, and the rare earth mineral monazite, which
contains the radioactive element.

The long-running dispute highlights the
legal and moral risks facing companies as they intensify efforts to open
rare earth mines, a push that has led to a rush of deals as the west seeks
to loosen China’s grip on the sector. Western nations see dependence on
China for the metals — vital components of magnets that go into electric
vehicles, wind turbines and defence systems — as a national security
threat. Their concerns were heightened when Beijing imposed new export
controls last year.

 FT 31st May 2026,
https://www.ft.com/content/dcc11776-b672-4a0f-a1ed-3e441d2f4c29

June 5, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, OCEANIA