Some information about rare earth elements:

According to EWO: Rare-earth elements (REEs), abbreviated as REE, are also known as rare earth metals, or simply rare earths, or sometimes lanthanides (although yttrium and scandium are not part of this group, they are considered rare earths). It is a group of 17 soft heavy metals that are silvery-white in color and are almost indistinguishable. Rare earths are valued nearly 200 times more than gold, but these minerals are considered rare because most deposits have very low quality and concentration, making their extraction uneconomical.

Rare earths were first discovered by Lieutenant Carl Axel Arrhenius, who found a heavy, black rock in a mine in the village of Ytterby, Sweden. He named the type of rock ytterbite (later renamed gadolinite). That rock is a mineral consisting of: Yttrium, ytterbium, iron, silicon, and some other rare earth elements.

In 1803, two rare earth elements known as yttrium and cerium were discovered, and it took another 30 years for researchers to discover that other rare earth elements are also present in these two ores. This is because of the similarity in the chemical properties of rare earths that makes their separation difficult. The next significant development was in the 1940s when scientists in the United States, as part of the Manhattan Project, developed ion exchange processes to separate and refine rare earth elements.

In the following decades, by the 1950s, South Africa became a leading producer of monazite mines containing rare earths. By the mid-1960s, the demand for rare earths truly skyrocketed. This made the United States the largest producer of rare earths in the world at that time.

By the 1980s, China began to produce a large amount of rare earth materials. A decade later, this country was recognized as the world's leading producer. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, China gradually consolidated its position in the global rare earth market.

Rare earths consist of 17 chemical elements classified into light elements (lanthanum to samarium) and heavy elements (europium to lutetium). The latter is less common and therefore more expensive.

Chemically, rare earths are strong reducing agents. Their compounds are generally in the form of ion bonds, and they have high melting and boiling points. Rare earths are relatively soft when in metallic state, while those with higher atomic numbers tend to be harder. Rare earths react with other metallic and non-metallic elements to form compounds, each compound exhibiting specific chemical behaviors. This makes them indispensable and irreplaceable in many electronic, optical, magnetic, and catalytic applications. Rare earth compounds often fluoresce under ultraviolet light, which can aid in their identification. Rare earths also react with water or dilute acid to produce hydrogen gas.

The Role of Rare Earth Elements in Energy Transition:

The Digital Age continues to accelerate; access to broadband, digital television, digital cameras, and digital music is all around us at home and on the move - rare earths are the driving force behind this technology and their miniaturization capabilities. New materials and applications allow companies to produce more efficient, high-performance materials, meeting the demand for faster, smaller, and lighter products.

The increasing population and economic growth lead to a greater global energy demand, which translates into increased use of our limited fossil fuel reserves. Rare earths have played a significant role in conserving these reserves and have the potential to play an even larger role in moving us towards a hydrogen economy. Fossil fuels are finite globally, however, with billions of dollars invested in global oil infrastructure, it is crucial that we use these reserves efficiently.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), "Global clean energy transition will have profound implications for mineral demand over the next 20 years," noting that "wind energy is leading the growth in demand as major energy sources, using more minerals." To achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the European Union (EU) will need significantly more rare earths, from 7 to 26 times more; an additional 700% to 2,600% of neodymium, dysprosium, and praseodymium. If tensions between the US and China over rare earths continue, or if the EU does not secure larger rare earth supplies, this could jeopardize the EU's green ambitions.

In summary, rare earth magnets are essential for the energy transition process, and by 2030, magnets are expected to account for 40% of total rare earth demand. Therefore, it is no surprise that Western economies are ramping up investment initiatives in rare earth production, as well as recycling and bringing permanent magnet production back home.

Rare earths are supporting energy-saving initiatives through their unique physical and chemical properties, allowing environmental protection (by reducing energy consumption) and improving lifestyles (through energy-saving alternative solutions that save money without sacrificing comfort and reliability).

Rare earths play a pivotal role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through their applications in catalytic converters for automobiles, hybrid vehicles, wind turbines, and energy-efficient light bulbs. Examples of rare earth usage in the energy sector include:

- Wind turbines: NdFeB magnets enable direct-drive wind turbine technology, providing better electrical efficiency, reduced maintenance costs, and improved reliability (no gearbox).

- Automotive catalytic converters: New technology based on series allows Lean NOx Traps - a very compact catalytic system allowing compact cars running on diesel to meet NOx emission regulations.

Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles: Rapidly growing segments contribute to pollution control at emission points.

- General transportation: NdFeB magnets enable significant weight reduction contributing to overall energy savings and CO2 emissions reduction.

Rare earths are essential input materials used to manufacture over 200 commercial products ranging from defense equipment, green energy infrastructure (such as wind turbines), to everyday consumer goods (such as mobile phones, cameras, computer hard drives, headlights, and electronic devices). They significantly improve the performance, efficiency, lifespan, and reliability of technology due to their unique chemical, electromagnetic, optical, nuclear, and magnetic properties.

Reserves and Competition for Rare Earths:

In 2020, the World Bank stated that the production of critical minerals, including rare earths, could increase by nearly 500% by 2050 if the demand for clean energy technology continues to accelerate. However, the global supply chain for these rare earth metals is fragile and vulnerable to geopolitical factors.

It's worth mentioning that despite being called rare earths, they are not actually rare. However, economically viable reserves that can be extracted from the Earth's crust are indeed scarce. According to the US Geological Survey, the largest exploitable rare earth reserves are found in China (35%), Vietnam (18%), and Russia (17%).

China dominates rare earth production, accounting for 70% of the world's rare earth production in 2022. Meanwhile, the US imported 74% of rare earth compounds from China in 2022, and with ongoing US-China tensions, competition for rare earth metals is intensifying, and the supply risk is increasing. In the latest development in September 2023, Malaysia announced its intention to implement a ban on the export of raw rare earth materials to maintain its position in higher-value-added segments of the supply chain.

The EU imports 98% of its rare earth components from China, and as a result, the discovery of 11 million tons of rare earth oxide by Sweden's state-owned mining company, LKAB, on January 12, 2023, is a significant development for the EU's domestic industry.

How to Extract Rare Earths?

Rare earths, when found in sufficient clusters, are essentially a 'cocktail' of elements that must be separated into individual elements before they can be used for commercial purposes. Rare earths tend to be mined using open-pit mining methods. Rare earth ore is enriched to remove rock and other substances. After refinement from the ore, they can be supplied in elemental form. Additionally, they can be processed into compounds (oxides, chlorides, and carbonates) collectively known as REOs.

Rare earth production requires complex secrets and processing facilities - skills that China has gradually acquired over decades.

In most mines, different types of rare earths are mixed together, as well as other minerals. Due to the similar chemical properties of different rare earth elements, the separation process is very complex.

The processing process involves multiple stages of physical and chemical processing methods, consuming a significant amount of acid, water, increasing costs, and causing environmental pollution. Radioactive by-products of the rare earth processing process remain a major environmental concern.

Vietnam Promoting Rare Earth Mining Technology Development:

According to the assessment of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology: In Vietnam, the estimated reserves of rare earths reach about 22 million tons (accounting for over 18% of the world's rare earth reserves), ranking second in the world (only after China with 44 million tons) and accounting for over 36% of the world's rare earth reserves.

According to scientists, rare earths in Vietnam are mainly distributed in the Northwest region. This area has some rare earth mines that have been explored and identified with high economic value. The Northwest region contains very rich alkaline and alkaline magma rocks rich in rare earth elements - favorable conditions for the formation of rare earth mines.

Currently, the largest type of rare earth ore deposit in the country is in Lai Chau province, which can be exploited on an industrial scale. In Lai Chau province, there are recorded 4 rare earth mineral deposits. Some rare earth mines are also found in other provinces: Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son...

Although there is potential, according to the report of the Industrial Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade): The situation of mining and processing rare earth mines in Vietnam is still limited. The main reason for this delay is that the licensed mining companies have not mastered the processing technology to produce products that meet the requirements, nor have they had the technology to separate rare earth products.

Currently, Vietnam only stops at the stage of processing rare earth ore with a rare earth oxide content of about 30%.

According to Professor, Academician Chau Van Minh - Chairman of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology: Recognizing the importance of rare earths, our Party and State have paid attention to exploration and assessment of reserves for over 40 years. Research-oriented extraction, processing, and application of rare earth minerals have been invested by the State through science and technology programs and programs of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, achieving positive results. Specifically, the separation and purification of rare earth elements; application of rare earths as catalyst materials; production of rare earth NdFeB magnets and multi-microelement leaf fertilizers containing rare earth elements...

Although investment has been made in rare earth research, Vietnam has not yet deeply exploited and processed rare earths. The main reason is that Vietnam does not have the ability to produce equipment and technologies for rare earth mining and processing. Only a few countries have advanced rare earth processing technologies, but they retain copyrights, secrecy, and do not transfer technology such as China, the United States, Australia... In addition, investment in science and technology in this field in Vietnam is not enough and not focused; the application of rare earths has not found a worthy position in the market economy.

In a recent scientific workshop "Vietnamese Rare Earth - Current Status of Mining Technology, Processing, and Prospects", scientists have stated: The demand for rare earth applications will increase rapidly over the next 20 years. The future of rare earths is not about all 17 elements being used equally, but only some of them are used. Moreover, the profit from rare earths is not in exporting rare earths, but focuses on the application of rare earths in high-tech products. For example, two elements Neodymium (Nd) and Samarium (Sm) are applied in the production of high-intensity magnets in the manufacturing of electric cars and wind turbines.

Vietnam is gradually becoming an area attracting investment for electric vehicle and clean energy industries. Therefore, the core issue is the need to develop domestic technology capabilities for rare earth manufacturing, turning rare earth metals into strategic materials to take proactive control in cooperation with countries with advanced technology industries. On the other hand, it is necessary to develop technology for manufacturing materials, equipment, and applications of rare earths for the electric vehicle, wind power, and defense industries.

Duy Nguyen, compiled from Tap chi nang luong (Vietnam Energy Magazine)