Source: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn%3Ali%3Ashare%3A6717623155227185152
Defense News #RareEarth #Minerals: #Safeguarding #US #National #Security by #Insourcing: Appearing before the #Senate #Armed #Services #Committee’s Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee on Thursday, Ellen Lord, the top acquisition official at the #Pentagon, called for congressional aid in creating a #strategy for #rare #earth #minerals.
“A U.S. rare earth mineral strategy should, with the necessary congressional authorization and appropriations, consist of national stockpiles of certain rare earth elements, reestablishing rare earth mineral processing in the U.S. by implementing new incentives and removing disincentives, and [research and development] around new forms of clean rare earth mineral processing and substitutes”. Subcommittee chairman warned that China’s domination puts #US #NationalSecurity at risk pointing to a 2010 incident when China cut off rare earth elements to Japan given that dependence on an #adversary is a national security issue.
While agreeing with the risk, Lord said the short-term solutions are to increase the mining of domestic sources while trying to increase stockpiles of critical materials, as well as looking for alternative sources.
