ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The Chinese government has rolled out regulations regarding the management of rare earth elements, placing a strong emphasis on enhanced protection and control over these valuable resources, which are widely used in high-tech products.
The State Council of the People’s Republic of China recently published the regulations on their official website, and these will take effect from October 1.
“Rare earth resources belong to the state; no organization or individual can appropriate or destroy them,” the Article 4 of the document emphasizes.
The state will strengthen the protection of rare earth resources in accordance with the law. Companies authorized to mine and process rare earth elements will be designated by relevant State Council departments, and information about these companies will be made public.
The relevant departments of the State Council will also create a special information system for rare earth elements, enhancing control over the entire process of mining, processing, and exporting these resources.
In December 2023, Chinese authorities imposed export restrictions on several technologies related to the mining and processing of rare earth elements.
Rare earth elements are a group of 17 metals widely used in high-tech devices, including computers, televisions, smartphones, and defense technologies such as missiles, lasers, transport systems, and military communication equipment.
In recent decades, China has heavily invested in extracting and processing rare earth elements and tops the global supply chain. According to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, in 2023, the PRC exported more than 114,000 tons of rare earth elements and products to the tune of $4.4 billion. (Sputnik/AT Network)
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