Introduction
This morning before going to workGeorgia BlackWhile watching the news and sipping a can of coffee, I came across something that caught my attention.
Essential for EVs and wind power generation"Rare Earth"The story is that global attention is focused on Myanmar regarding the supply of [something].
Moreover, a significant proportion of important heavy rare earth elements circulating in the world areMyanmarSome suggest that this is the origin of the name.
Why Myanmar in this age of clean energy?
I wanted to think a little about the background behind that.
background
Rare earth elements are essential materials for high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles and wind power generation motors.
Because it is also used in military technologies such as fighter jets and missiles, it is a resource that is relevant not only to energy but also to national security for various countries.
However, China has long held a dominant position in this field.
Because China controls the global supply in terms of both mining and refining, countries have been looking for alternative sources of resources.
That's when northern Myanmar came into consideration.
Main theme
Kachin State in northern Myanmar is a mountainous region bordering Yunnan Province in China.
This is where a supply chain was established, with Chinese companies mining rare earth elements and refining them in China.
In other words, while ostensibly Myanmar's resources, in reality it had become a crucial hub supporting China's rare earth supply.
However, the situation changed after the 2021 military coup, which resulted in a state of civil war.
It is believed that ethnic armed groups have seized control of part of the mines, and that this has led to a decrease in China's import volume.
It was in that gap that the United States and India began to make their move.
A new power struggle over securing resources seems to be quietly unfolding.
Specific facts
Another thing that concerns me is the mining site.
Mining development is progressing in areas where supervision is largely inadequate, leading to river pollution problems.
In northern Thailand, there have been reports of heavy metals such as arsenic and lead being detected in rivers flowing in from Myanmar at levels exceeding standard limits.
Behind the resources that support clean energy, environmental and human rights issues are arising.
In the business world, we may be entering an era where how we handle the "invisible parts" of the supply chain is becoming a crucial question.
Summary
The topic of resources that underpin global industries may seem like something happening in a distant country, but in reality, it's connected to the future of work and technology.
While taking a sip of canned coffee,
This morning, I was thinking for a moment that the work I'm involved in today is probably built upon the resources and technology of some other country...
