China Weighs Tighter Controls on Rare Elements China is planning
to tighten its control over its rare earth minerals by allowing
just a handful of state companies to oversee the mining of the
scarce elements, which are vital to some of the world’s greenest
technologies. The State Council, China’s highest legislative
body, is weighing a proposal to put the government in control of
private and unauthorized mines that produce rare earth minerals,
a strategic resource that much of the world depends on,
according to China Daily, the official English-language
newspaper. Rare earth minerals are an unusual group of natural
elements that are vital for high-performance electric motors in
hybrid cars, wind turbines, efficient light bulbs and even
missiles. China now accounts for over 90 percent of the world’s
production of the minerals. Some governments and global
companies have recently expressed concern about whether China is
planning to restrict exports of its rare earth minerals or force
global companies to move fac