STRENGTHENING THE EUROPEAN RARE EARTHS SUPPLY-CHAIN Challenges and policy options A REPORT BY THE EUROPEAN RARE EARTHS COMPETENCY NETWORK (ERECON)
ERECON (2014) Strengthening the European rare earths supply chain: Challengesand policy options. Kooroshy, J., G. Tiess, A. Tukker, and A. Walton (eds.). ; Policy recommendations:1.Maintaining and strengthening the European Rare Earth Elements (REE) skills and knowledge base through research funding, science and technology education and international cooperation.Without cutting-edge research and technical expertise, a European high-tech REE industry cannot flourish. The EC and Member States should support funding for research grants, scholarships, and training networks, and enhance European and international cooperation through coordinated calls, researcher exchanges, and joint high-level conferences.2.Creating the basis for informed decision-making on REEs through a European Critical Materials Observatory.Mapping and monitoring of REE supply chains is necessary for informed decision-making. Expertise in Europe could be pooled in a virtual Critical Materials Observatory that provides the public with consistent and authoritative knowledge on REEs (e.g., information on advanced exploration projects, prices, key demand and supply trends, and the urban mine potential).3.Support promising technologies through funding industry-led pilot plants for innovative HREE processing.The EC, industry and Member States should accelerate the commercialization and scaling up of key technologies through co-financing industry-led pilot plants. This should include pilots for REE recovery from heavy rare earths-rich minerals, direct-alloy recycling routes, process and sensor equipment for REE recycling, and REE recovery from industrial residues.4.Levelling the playing field for European HREE exploration through co-funding for prefeasibility and bankable feasibility studies.Support from federal and state governments in the U.S., Australia and Canada has played a critical role in advancing project exploration. The EC and Member States should evaluate possibilities for supporting the extensive R&D necessary for pre-feasibility and ...