Rare earth metals are a group of 17 metals consisting of scandium and yttrium as well as all lanthanide elements (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium). Said resources are used in numerous modern technologies, including those related to the green energy transformation and the military. The world leader in their extraction and processing continues to be China, which, in view of the tense international situation and the threat of further conflicts, raises serious concerns about the security of their supply to Europe or the United States.
Is the world economy's demand for rare earth metals really as great as presented by media reports on the subject? Are there any other threats, such as environmental degradation, on the road to independence from imports of these raw materials from the Middle Country?
Professor Krzysztof Galos
Professor of natural sciences, specialist in economic geology, mineral resources management, mining economics, raw materials and energy policy. Author and co-author of >270 publications, >20 expert opinions for ministries, and >70 studies for business entities. Since 2017, Director of the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow. Since 2010, Member of the Committee for Sustainable Mineral Resources Management of the Polish Academy of Sciences (currently Deputy Chairman of the Committee). Since 2015, Member of the Council of the European Federation of Geologists.