Delicate Extraction: Malaysia Offers Rare Earths Alternative to China

Tonnes of packaged rare earth minerals sat ready for shipping from a Malaysian plant central to the ambitions of Australian firm Lynas to loosen China's grip on supplies of the critical elements. Photo by ARIF KARTONO / AFP

Bu Jan Hennop

Workers load tonnes of rare earth minerals into bags ready for shipping at a refinery in eastern Malaysia, fuelling the global pushback against China’s grip on the critical sector.

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