Rare earth elements are critical components in a wide range of technologies, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, advanced electronics, defence systems and medical equipment.
South Africa has taken a significant step towards establishing a domestic rare earth processing industry after Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine (SMM) and Mintek successfully produced high-purity mixed rare earth products at laboratory scale.
This is a breakthrough that could position the country as a strategic supplier to rapidly growing global clean energy, technology and medical sectors currently dominated by China.
The achievement, announced on Wednesday, marks a key milestone in South Africa’s efforts to move beyond the export of raw minerals and develop local beneficiation capabilities in one of the world’s most sought-after critical mineral markets.
According to the partners, the successful production of high-purity mixed rare earth products was achieved through a long-standing collaboration between SMM and Mintek, with support from the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa).
