Industry Bulletin: Rare Earths, Particularly Heavy Rare Earths, Profiled in Recent Report on Critical Raw Materials for the EU
Toronto, May 29, 2014 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Avalon Rare Metals (
TSE:AVL) (NYSEMKT:AVL) is pleased to issue this Industry Bulletin, which provides commentary on the just released Report on Critical Raw Materials for the EU: Report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Defining Critical Raw Materials (the "Report"), in which some 20 raw materials are deemed fundamental to Europe's economy, essential for maintaining and improving quality of life, but where supply is somehow limited. As noted in the Report, "Securing reliable and undistorted access of certain raw materials is of growing concern within the EU and across the globe. As a consequence of these circumstances, the Raw Materials Initiative was instigated to manage responses to raw materials issues at an EU level." Among the identified critical raw materials, heavy rare earths (as well as the lights) rated highest relative to high economic importance to the EU combined with a high risk associated with their supply.
The first criticality analysis for raw materials was published in 2010 by the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Defining Critical Raw Materials. 14 critical raw materials were identified from a candidate list of 41 non-energy, non-food materials. The current Report has used the same methodology, indicators and thresholds as the original 2010 (54 raw materials instead of 41) criticality assessment at EU level, but with updated data and a wider range of materials.
This year's Report provided greater detail for the rare earth elements by splitting them into 'heavy' and 'light' categories. The overall results of the 2013 criticality assessment are shown below. The critical raw materials are highlighted in the top right zone of the graph (see link below).
Analysis of the global primary supply of the 54 candidate materials identifies around 90% of global supply having originated from outside EU sources. China is the major supplier when these materials are considered; however, many other countries are important suppliers of specific materials. EU primary supply across all candidate materials is estimated at around 9%. In the case of the critical raw materials, supply from the EU sources is even more limited.
List of Critical Raw Materials
The risks associated with concentration of production of rare earths are in many cases compounded by a lack of substitutes' substitutability and low recycling rates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Raw Main Producers Main Sources of Substitutability End-of-life Materials (2010, Imports Index* Recycling Input 2011, into the EU Rate** 2012) (mainly 2012)------------------------------------------------------------------------Heavy rare China 99% China 41% Earth Australia 1% Russia 35% 0.77 0%Elements USA 17%------------------------------------------------------------------------Light Rare China 87% "Earth USA 7% " 0.67 0%Elements Australia 3% "------------------------------------------------------------------------
(*) The 'Substitutability index' is a measure of the difficulty in substituting the material, scored and weighted across all applications. Values are between 0 and 1, with 1 being the least substitutable.
(**) The 'End-of-life recycling input rate' measures the proportion of metal and metal products that are produced from end-of-life scrap and other metal-bearing low grade residues in end-of-life scrap worldwide.
Data extracted from table in the European Commission's Raw Materials review of Report (May 2014)
The conclusion that can be drawn from this analysis is that a rare earth supply chain outside China is still required, as China's monopoly still presents a significant supply risk for consumers in the EU.
To read the press release sent out by the European Commission reviewing the Report on Critical Raw Materials for the EU, visit:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-377_en.htm?locale=en
To view the table, graph and the release, please visit:
http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/77264-IB-2014-05-28.pdf
About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSE:AVL) (OTCMKTS:AVLNF) (formerly Avalon Rare Metals) is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche market metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.
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