Greens worry over rare earth supplies

Reinhard Bütikofer, industrial affairs spokesman for the Green group in the European Parliament, has demanded more research on strategies to ensure a secure supply of rare earth metals used widely in industrial processes.

His call follows a Chinese government decision to cut its export quotas for these minerals in the second half of 2012. China is currently responsible for 97 per cent of world production of rare earth ores from deposits in Inner Mongolia.