Criticality assessment and management policy analysis of rare earth elements

Abstract

Under the trend of global energy structure transformation driven by carbon neutrality and increasingly fierce international competition, global competition for rare earth elements (REEs) has intensified, and countries have classified them as strategically critical resources. However, few studies have examined the associated characteristic of individual REEs and their differences in supply–demand relationships, which has led to previous misjudgments of critical REEs. Therefore, in this paper, the criticality of 15 REEs was reassessed using a modified three-dimensional criticality evaluation system. The results show that the global supply risk and vulnerability to supply restriction (VSR) of praseodymium, neodymium, and dysprosium involved in electronic device and new energy equipment manufacturing are high, while neodymium is also with the highest VSR in China and the United States. The differentiated management of specific REEs, such as recycling and application development, is a more effective means of regulating the supply–demand balance than the total mining control policy that is currently in use. These findings could support countries in the advance planning of targeted management policies for critical REEs to guarantee the safe supply of REE resources and the achievement of sustainable development goals.