REE’s & Critical Minerals
What are REE’s & Critical Minerals?
The REE group is composed of 15 elements on the periodic table of elements, and are commonly referred to as the “lanthanides”
Yttrium is also commonly regarded as a REE as it occurs in the same deposits as REE’s
Critical minerals are used as components in things such as solar PV plants, wind farms, electric vehicles and battery storage
Why REE’s & Critical Minerals?
“Increasingly, demand for resources is expanding beyond traditional commodities such as iron ore and gold. The pace of technological development has been accelerating, and with it the demand for minerals critical to sectors including defence, aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, telecommunications and agritech.”
“By 2030, Australia is a global critical minerals powerhouse. We are integral to international critical mineral supply chains and technologies crucial to the global economy.”
Source: 2022 Critical Minerals Strategy, Australian Government, Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources