What exactly are rare earth materials? Discuss their strategic and environmental importance in relation to India. (150 words)
Approach
- Define the term “rare earth elements”.
- Explain their strategic and environmental importance.
- Discuss its significance in relation to India.
- Finally, suggest a course of action.
Introduction
Rare Earth Elements (REE) are a collection of seventeen metallic elements. These include the periodic table’s fifteen lanthanides, as well as scandium and yttrium. Because many of them are traded as oxide compounds, they are also known as “rare earth oxides.”
Body
Rare-earth elements (REE) are essential components of a wide range of items, particularly high-tech consumer goods like cellular phones, computer hard drives, electric and hybrid vehicles, and flat-screen monitors and televisions. They are in short supply, but demand is increasing. They are mined and manufactured in small amounts, therefore the name.
Environmental Importance: Because of their distinctive magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties, rare earth elements (REE) assist technology in reducing emissions and energy consumption, allowing them to give improved efficiency, performance, speed, durability, and thermal stability. Electrical, metallurgical, catalytic, nuclear, magnetic, and luminous properties distinguish them. Future technologies will require these REEs for high-temperature superconductivity, secure hydrogen storage and transport in a post-hydrocarbon economy, environmental global warming, and energy efficiency concerns.
Strategic: Permanent magnets obtained from rare earth minerals are utilised in defence technology, such as actuators to control guidance systems for airborne smart missiles, as well as aerospace uses for aircraft components and airstrip maintenance equipment.
The demand for important rare earth minerals will rise in response to rising global trends in clean technologies. Despite being late to the race, the Indian government is taking initiatives to grow and improve India’s position in the rare earth market. Furthermore, if India wishes to position itself as a global leader in renewable energy while also becoming more self-sufficient in defence equipment, it should attempt to lessen its reliance on imports of renewable energy equipment such as solar panels and modules as well as defence equipment.
Conclusion
While the release of a National Mineral Policy 2019 including non-fuel and non-coal minerals is a start, India must endeavour to gain expertise in valorizing these minerals and turn its focus to strengthening its downstream sector. To that aim, India should seek to leverage its relationships with Japan and other nations that have the necessary technology for producing downstream equipment in order to establish itself as an alternative supplier of REE-based technology, complete with its own supply chain of minerals and metals.
