Weekly News Review March 2 – March 8 2026

As the week comes to a close, it was primarily mining heavyweight Canada making headlines, positioning itself as a future supplier of critical raw materials. Meanwhile, in Brussels, the focus on key technologies is increasingly on a “Made in Europe” approach.

AUSTRALIA’S LYNAS RECEIVES A 10 – YEAR LICENSE IN MALAYSIA:

Lynas will be allowed to operate its refinery in Malaysia for another ten years, the Australian rare earths company announced on Sunday (PDF). This provides the company with planning certainty, as the site is set to expand its capacity—particularly in the processing of heavy rare earth elements.

However, the decision comes with a significant twist: by 2031, no radioactive residues may be generated in the element separation processes, according to a Malaysian minister cited by the news agency Reuters. Rare earth deposits are typically associated with elements such as uranium or thorium, which become concentrated during processing. These residues must subsequently be stored safely.

As early as 2023, the government of the Southeast Asian country sought to introduce a regulation banning these refining stages, but ultimately granted approval until March 2026.

FROM A THROWAWAY PRODUCT TO A TOA CO2 CATCHER:

With the help of the precious metal ruthenium, rubber gloves are being given a new purpose in the fight against greenhouse gases.

Human-caused climate change and plastic pollution are among the most pressing global challenges. At Denmark’s Aarhus University, researchers have now developed a method that could help address both—using rubber gloves. Millions of them end up in landfills or are incinerated every year, often after just a single use. The researchers focused on nitrile gloves, which are made from a synthetic rubber derived from crude oil. In the laboratory, they succeeded in converting the gloves into a new material that absorbs CO₂ rather than releasing it when burned.

Well-suited for Carbon Capture and Storage:

The recycled material could be used for carbon capture and storage (CCS)—a technology many experts believe will be unavoidable if the worst impacts of climate change are to be mitigated. In CCS, CO₂ is removed from the atmosphere or captured directly at the source, such as industrial facilities. The captured greenhouse gas can then be stored underground or reused as a raw material, for example, in the production of chemicals or fuels.

To achieve this, the rubber gloves were shredded and then converted into amines using a ruthenium-based catalyst and hydrogen gas. These nitrogen-containing molecules can bind CO₂ and are already used in established CCS processes. In laboratory experiments, the material produced from the gloves showed the highest adsorption efficiency at around 90 degrees Celsius. By reheating the material or reducing the pressure, the bound CO₂ can be released again, allowing the recycled material to be reused multiple times.

While experimental approaches to producing amines from waste materials already exist, what is new about the work at Aarhus University is the use of nitriles as starting materials. According to the research group, they have previously succeeded in recycling other materials that were considered difficult or nearly impossible to recycle, such as polyurethane foam from mattresses and epoxy and fiberglass from wind turbines.

Following these initial laboratory successes, the researchers are now working to make the process scalable and economically viable—for example, for use in power plants.

EUROPE: MAGNET CIRCULAR ECONOMY POWERED BY CANADIAN EXPERTISE:

Production waste from rare-earth magnet manufacturing in Europe could, in the future, be recycled in Canada and subsequently returned to the European industry. A non-binding memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed on Monday by the two Canadian companies Cyclic Materials and Neo Performance Materials.

Last September, Neo opened a rare earth magnet manufacturing facility in Estonia. Under the proposed agreement, Cyclic could also process material sourced from end-of-life magnets or from third-party production and supply it to Neo.

By combining Neo’s advanced magnet manufacturing platform with Cyclic’s innovative recycling technology, the companies aim to help create secure, traceable, and sustainable supply chains for their customers, according to Neo CEO Rahim Suleman.

Both rare-earth processing and permanent magnet production have been heavily concentrated in China for decades. Cyclic is already collaborating with other European companies, including Solvay and Vacuumschmelze. The circular economy for rare earths could gain further momentum through this potential new partnership.

CANADA MOBILISES 49 BILLION FOR STRATEGIC METALS:

Investments are flowing into mining and research projects with twelve international partners, including strategic collaborations for lithium, synthetic graphite, and rare earth elements.

Through a comprehensive initiative, Canada aims to strengthen its role as a producer of critical minerals and expand the value chains that support them. To this end, 30 new project agreements and cooperation deals have been signed, involving twelve allied countries and organizations. The total investment amounts to nearly $9 billion USD, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources on Monday.

The announced strategic partnerships include Regen Resources Recovery Corporation’s project in Ontario to produce synthetic graphite on a former industrial site, as well as the rare earth recycling center of the Canadian start-up Cyclic Materials. Some of these projects have already secured offtake agreements with industry partners, such as Frontier Lithium, which is developing a lithium processing facility in Ontario, with the energy division of Japanese electronics company Panasonic.

In Addition, new collaborations were announced, including partnerships with India, the European Union, the European Investment Bank, and Greenland.

Government Funding in the Millions for Research and Development:

Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, also unveiled government funding of nearly $50 million USD for research and development projects with international partners. This includes support for Rio Tinto’s gallium extraction project in Québec.

The investments are part of the Critical Minerals Production Alliance, an international platform initiated by the Canadian government to promote critical minerals projects. Since its launch in June 2025, the alliance has already mobilized approximately $13.5 billion USD.

The mining nation of Canada is already a major producer of raw materials, including gold, coal, iron ore, copper, and nickel. In light of growing geopolitical tensions and many countries’ desire to reduce their dependence on China, the country also aims to expand production of critical minerals such as rare earths and lithium. These resources are required for strategic sectors like energy, high-tech, and defense, and demand is steadily rising as availability becomes increasingly limited. Canada positions itself here as a reliable alternative in the global raw materials market through high environmental standards, expertise, and political stability.

However, although the country has significant deposits of critical minerals, it currently accounts for only about 2 percent of global production, according to an analysis (PDF) by the Royal Bank of Canada. In addition, over the past 25 years, only 11 percent of domestic mining capital has been invested in critical minerals, leaving Canada behind its international competitors.

UNITED STATES:RE-ALLOYS TO EXPAND US RARE EARTH PRODUCTION –

With Pentagon support, the aim is to reduce dependence on Chinese imports.

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), an agency of the Pentagon, has tasked U.S.-based company REAlloys with expanding the production of samarium and gadolinium. The two critical rare earth elements have been subject to strict export restrictions from China, the main producer, for nearly a year. The U.S. currently relies almost entirely on imports from China for these materials.

These resources are critical for key sectors such as defense, healthcare, and energy. Samarium is used in samarium-cobalt magnets, which are far more heat-resistant than the widely used neodymium-iron-boron magnets, making them ideal for demanding applications like fighter jet engines and radar systems. Gadolinium is irreplaceable as a contrast agent in medical imaging and is also used in nuclear reactors.

Under the contract, REAlloys will develop a modular production facility with an annual capacity of 300 tons of metals. According to Reuters, funding for the project could reach up to $1.7 million. A provisional patent application has been filed for the underlying technology. The plan includes full recycling of all byproducts, aiming to reduce capital expenditure and production costs by up to 50%.

Realloys is building a vertically integrated North American supply chain for rare earths—from the mine to the finished magnet. This includes developing the Hoidas Lake rare-earth deposit in Saskatchewan, Canada, and producing rare-earth metals and magnetic materials in Ohio, USA. To further strengthen its production network, the company entered into a partnership late last year with the Saskatchewan Research Council, the operator of Canada’s first rare-earth refinery.

PERU: OLD MINE – NEW POTENTIAL: US SUPPORTS SECONDARY MINING IN PERU –

The Cerro de Pasco Mine contains critical raw materials, including gallium.

The U.S. government’s development finance institution, DFC, will support the recovery of critical raw materials from mine tailings with up to $5 million in funding. These tailings at the Cerro de Pasco Mine in Peru’s central highlands contain, in addition to silver, copper, and tin, also gallium and indium, according to a press release from the project developer.

Furthermore, the DFC is considering providing the project with a direct loan of up to 300 million U.S. dollars for construction. In recent months, the institution has already committed project-related development financing in Brazil and coordinated U.S. collaboration with Uzbekistan on investments in the country’s mineral resources.

The recovery of critical raw materials from tailings and other forms of secondary mining is gaining increasing global importance, particularly in light of China’s strong market influence.

EUROPE: INDUSTRIAL ACCELERATOR ACT TO BOOST COMPETITIVENESS:

The legislative proposal includes rules on “Made in Europe” quotas and on foreign investments. Many points remain disputed.

The European Commission on Wednesday presented the Industrial Accelerator Act. The package of measures is intended to strengthen the EU’s industrial competitiveness amid growing global competition. At the same time, it aims to reduce dependence on Chinese imports and promote climate-friendly technologies.

At the heart of the proposal is a “Made in Europe” approach that links public procurement and state incentives to sector-specific quotas and requirements. Specifically, the sectors affected include batteries, battery energy storage systems, solar energy, heat pumps, wind power, electrolyzers, nuclear technologies, and energy-intensive raw materials such as aluminum, steel, and cement. Different requirements apply to the “Made in Europe” share, which can be gradually increased over time.

According to media reports, the industrial policy package has been scaled back compared with earlier drafts; initially, the sectors of robotics, microchips, autonomous driving, and artificial intelligence were also included.

Also new is that, under certain circumstances, products from trade partners may be included, for example, if a free trade agreement exists. In addition, approval procedures are to be accelerated, and foreign investments in EU key sectors such as electric vehicles, batteries, solar energy, and critical raw materials are to be more strictly controlled.

Little Mention of Critical Raw Materials:

Otherwise, critical raw materials such as rare earths or gallium, which are at the start of every value chain, are only mentioned sporadically in the legislative text. To ensure supply, the Industrial Accelerator Act builds on measures already underway, such as a joint procurement platform. Unlike in earlier drafts reported on, stockpiling of critical raw materials and direct measures to secure resources no longer play a role.

Reactions to the legislative proposal have been muted. The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce sees some approaches as correct but warns of new bureaucratic hurdles due to “sector-specific and detailed approaches.” The Association of the Automotive Industry also criticizes the proposal. Protectionism is not the right answer to current challenges; instead, a stronger EU single market, less regulation, and more free trade and raw-material agreements are needed.

The legislative proposal has been controversial since its first presentation and has been postponed multiple times. Among the points of contention is which non-EU countries should be classified as “trusted partners.” Following the Commission’s proposal, the European Parliament and EU governments must negotiate the final text, which is likely to involve further changes.

CANADA AND AUSTRALIA: NEW ALLIANCE TO COUNTER CHINA’S RAW MATERIALS DOMINANCE:

Joint investments, knowledge sharing, and the coordination of strategic reserves aim to strengthen supply chains. In addition, Australia is joining the G7 alliance to produce critical minerals.

Two Western mining nations are joining forces: Australia and Canada plan to work more closely together to make critical mineral supply chains less dependent on China. The agreement was signed today during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s state visit to his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese. Alongside this, the two countries established additional partnerships in strategic sectors, including energy, artificial intelligence, and security.

The goals of the resource cooperation include joint investments in mining projects and the exchange of expertise. To enhance supply security, Australia’s developing national strategic mineral reserve will be coordinated with Canada’s government-managed Critical Minerals Investment Fund. The partnership builds on existing bilateral cooperation in the mining sector.

Both Canada and Australia have significant mineral resources and are major producers of iron ore, zinc, and gold. Both countries also aim to become key suppliers of critical minerals such as rare earth elements, as global demand rises while availability becomes increasingly constrained. Australia is already the world leader in lithium mining and plans to expand its refining capacity, while China currently dominates that market. The island nation is also the world’s second-largest producer of rare earths, after China. Canada has already reached several milestones along the rare earth value chain. Both countries position themselves as reliable alternatives in the global resource market through high environmental and labor standards and political stability.

Resource Minister: Canada Prefers a Production Alliance Over Price Guarantees:

On Thursday, Australia also announced its entry into the G7 alliance for critical mineral production. Securing resources is a recurring topic at meetings of the seven leading industrialized nations. In September, price guarantees for non-Chinese mining companies were discussed to strengthen competitiveness. However, Canada favors a production alliance or a buyers’ club to counter China’s market concentration, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, told Reuters.

A key step in this direction could be Canada’s initiative launched earlier this week, which includes 30 new partnerships in the resource sector and mobilizes nearly $9 billion USD in total.

A month ago, the United States hosted a meeting with representatives from 54 countries and the European Union to make the global market for critical minerals “fairer” from the U.S. perspective. Proposed measures included a preferred trading zone for critical minerals with fixed minimum prices. According to Reuters, the U.S. signed an agreement with Mexico as part of this effort, but did not include Canada.

AUSTRALIA: STRATEGIC METALS FOR STRATEGIC INDUSTRIES –

Government backs new minerals research center with nearly USD 40 million.

The Australian government is aiming to expand its role in the global critical minerals market and is investing heavily in research and technology. According to Industry Minister Tim Ayres and Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King, the government is providing around USD 38 million for a new research center. The center, to be established under the name Critical Metals for Critical Industries CRC, will develop new processing and refining methods for strategically important minerals and accelerate their commercial application. “The next chapter in mineral processing requires new technologies, new industrial capabilities, and new partnerships,” Minister Ayres said.

A total of 62 partners from industry, academia, and industry associations will participate in the research center, contributing an additional USD 131 million to the project.

Australia has large deposits of minerals such as Lithium, Vanadium, and Cobalt, which are needed for batteries, renewable energy, defense technologies, and other high-tech applications. With Lynas Rare Earths, the country is also home to one of only two major Western players in the rare earths industry.

USA: PENTAGON INVESTS $27 MILLION IN ANTIMONY PRODUCTION:

U.S. Antimony Corporation receives funding to expand the full supply chain. The company is already supplying the National Defense Stockpile.

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to invest $27 million in the U.S. Antimony Corporation to expand the domestic antimony supply chain. The funding was approved on February 24, but implementation was delayed due to the government shutdown.

According to the company, the U.S. Antimony Corporation is the only company outside China and Russia with its own capacity for both mining and refining antimony. The funds will be used to modernize and expand production facilities in Montana and to advance antimony extraction at a mining site in Alaska.

Antimony is a critical mineral used for the production of certain munitions, as well as flame retardants and batteries, which have both civilian and military applications.

Not the Pentagon’s First Investment in the Domestic Antimony Supply Chain:

The strategic importance of the U.S. Antimony Corporation to national security is underscored by a five-year contract signed in September with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), a Pentagon agency, to build domestic reserves. In addition, Perpetua Resources and Nova Minerals, two other companies along the U.S. antimony supply chain, have also received Pentagon funding.

These efforts are part of a broader push to reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese imports. China accounts for roughly half of global antimony mine production and over 85 percent of refining capacity. In mid-2024, Beijing also implemented export controls on antimony and other raw materials, sharply restricting shipments.