美国、澳大利亚等国正在巴西加大稀土矿产的投资和开采力度，以打破中国在全球稀土供应中的主导地位。1巴西拥有全球第二大稀土储量，约2100万公吨，仅次于中国的4400万公吨。1近三年来，巴西稀土勘探申请数量激增，2727份申请中近86%在过去三年内提交，其中42%由外资企业提交，澳大利亚和美国的申请分别位列前两位。1
国际能源署在2022年预估，全球稀土需求到2040年可能至少增长三倍，这推动了各国对新稀土来源的争夺。1美国国际开发金融公司向巴西稀土生产商Serra Verde提供5.65亿美元融资，同时美国商务部承诺提供高达16亿美元支持。1美国政府支持的USA Rare Earth公司于今年四月宣布以约28亿美元收购Serra Verde，交易于六月完成，美国政府获得超过1600万股。1
这一资源争夺背后隐藏着严重的环保和人权隐患。1至少25%的稀土勘探申请地点与或位于距离283个保护区和原住民领地10公里范围内，大规模开采活动将在亚马逊雨林附近进行。1从勘探许可证到商业生产通常需要5至10年。1
The United States, Australia, and other nations are significantly increasing investment and extraction efforts in Brazil's rare earth mineral deposits to reduce dependence on China's dominance in global rare earth supply1. Brazil holds the world's second-largest reserves of rare earths at approximately 21 million metric tons, compared to China's 44 million metric tons1. A surge in exploration activity has accompanied this international interest, with 86 percent of rare earth exploration applications filed over the past three years, and 42 percent of the 2,727 applications submitted by foreign companies1. Australia leads foreign applicants with 695 applications, followed by the United States with 3471.
A major transaction has already reshaped the landscape of Brazilian rare earth production. USA Rare Earth, backed by the US government, announced in April a $2.8 billion acquisition of Serra Verde, Brazil's only commercial rare earth producer, with the deal completed in June1. The US International Development Finance Corporation provided $565 million in financing for the transaction, while the US Department of Commerce committed up to $1.6 billion in additional support, with the US government securing more than 16 million shares in the process1. This strategic investment reflects growing demand projections, as the International Energy Agency estimated in 2022 that rare earth demand could increase at least threefold by 20401.
However, the rush to develop Brazil's rare earth resources has triggered substantial environmental and indigenous rights concerns. At least 25 percent of exploration applications are located at or within 10 kilometers of 283 protected areas and indigenous territories1. The path from exploration permits to commercial production typically requires five to ten years1, meaning environmental and social impacts remain uncertain as projects advance through development stages.
评论
还没有评论，欢迎留下第一条。