Column: Electric dreams turn into a nightmare for battery metals
A sector that was once racing to build new supply has been closing mines and deferring projects as low prices bite into the cost curve.
The head of China’s largest metals trader has called for government efforts to consolidate the rare earth industry and nurture competitive domestic firms in the sector.
Zhou Zhongshu, president of China Minmetals, said that the difficulties facing China’s rare earth industry mainly come from the fact that local authorities, owners of rare earth mines, tend to issue mining licenses to local firms.
