Attention shifts to rare earths

The government sees opportunities to exploit domestic deposits of rare earths and critical raw materials after restrictions announced by China on exports of gallium and germanium, which are essential raw materials for the manufacture of semiconductors.

During the weekend, Environment and Energy Minister Thodoros Skylakakis requested detailed information from the Hellenic Geological & Mineral Research Authority (EAGME and former IGME) regarding the areas of probable deposits of rare earths and critical raw materials with the aim of evaluating the most mature that could initiate a further exploration program to identify them, and the potential for mining.

Earlier in the week, the European Commission contacted Mytilineos and asked the Greek group to investigate the production of gallium as a by-product in the process of converting bauxite into alumina, a raw material for...