What are Rare Earth Elements?

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a group of 17 metallic elements comprising:

• 15 Lanthanides (Lanthanum to Lutetium)
• Scandium
• Yttrium

They are termed “rare” not because they are scarce, but because they are rarely found in concentrated, economically exploitable forms.

Classification

• Light Rare Earth Elements (LREEs): Lanthanum to Samarium
• Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs): Europium to Lutetium + Yttrium

HREEs are geopolitically more critical due to higher scarcity and strategic applications.

Key Properties

• High magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties
• Essential for miniaturisation, efficiency, and performance in modern technologies
• Difficult and environmentally damaging to extract and process

Why are REEs Important?

REEs are critical minerals for modern economies and national security.

Major Applications

• Electronics: Smartphones, laptops, semiconductors
• Clean Energy: Wind turbines, EV motors, solar panels
• Defence: Missiles, radar systems, jet engines, night-vision devices
• Medical: MRI scanners, cancer therapy equipment
• Industry: Catalysts, glass polishing, alloys

Global Distribution & Geopolitics

• China dominates:
  • ~60% of global mining
  • ~85–90% of processing and refining capacity
• Other producers:
  • Australia
  • United States
  • Myanmar
  • Vietnam

This concentration makes REEs a strategic geopolitical lever.

India and Rare Earth Elements

India possesses the 5th largest REE reserves globally, mainly in beach sand minerals.

Major Locations

• Monazite-rich sands in:
  • Kerala
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Odisha
  • Andhra Pradesh

Institutional Framework

• Exploration and production handled by (under Department of Atomic Energy)

Challenges for India

• Limited processing and refining capability
• Environmental and radiation concerns (monazite contains thorium)
• Restrictive mining regulations
• Dependence on imports for high-purity REE products

Strategic & Economic Concerns

• REEs are central to:
  • Energy transition
  • Digital economy
  • Defence preparedness
• Supply chain disruptions can impact:
  • EV manufacturing
  • Renewable energy targets
  • Military readiness

Environmental Issues

• Mining generates:
  • Radioactive waste
  • Toxic effluents
• Poorly regulated extraction causes:
  • Soil degradation
  • Water contamination

This creates a trade-off between strategic autonomy and environmental sustainability.

Government Initiatives & Global Cooperation

• Inclusion of REEs under Critical Minerals Strategy
• International partnerships:
  • India–Australia
  • India–Japan
  • India–US (Quad framework)
• Focus on:
  • Diversifying supply chains
  • Developing domestic processing capability

Way Forward for India

• Develop end-to-end REE value chain (mining → refining → manufacturing)
• Promote public–private partnerships
• Invest in clean extraction technologies
• Strengthen international supply-chain alliances
• Balance strategic needs with environmental safeguards