Op-ed: West Virginia has rare opportunity with rare earth minerals
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If you have tried to purchase a new or used car lately, you have experienced first-hand the worldwide shortage of semiconductor chips. When the pandemic hit last year, there was a sharp increase in demand for chips to power computers, phones and other consumer electronics. Chips were diverted to fulfill the demand. Now that demand for durable goods is rising, the shortage of chips is hitting the auto industry hard.
Chips are made from rare earth minerals, which are made up of 17 elements that share similar chemical properties which give them the ability to discharge and accept electrons. They are not rare, as they are plentiful in the Earth's crust. However, rare earth elements are typically not found in concentrated quantities, so they are difficult to extract by traditional mining methods.
What West Virginians may not realize is that the semiconductor chip crisis is highlighting a rare opportunity for our state. Researchers at the West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI), a program of the Energy Institute at WVU, are working to turn acid mine drainage from coal mining into a rare earth extraction resource. They recently received a continuation of a $2.1 million contract for their work from the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
In an interview with WVU Today, Paul Ziemkiewicz, WVWRI director, said they have partnered with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to build a pilot plant that will treat acid mine drainage to meet clean water standards. The technology will allow extraction of one ton per year of rare earth and critical minerals concentrate. In addition, they are conducting a study for the NETL on how to develop a national supply chain of plants in coal and metal mining areas based on the technology. The plants could create significant skilled jobs and potentially produce at least 400 tons of rare earth elements each year.
In the United States, around 11,000 metric tons of rare earth elements are used annually in the manufacturing of high-tech goods, from fighter jets to cell phones. The U.S. Department of Energy believes that the current $5 billion global rare earth elements market will grow by 40 percent in the next five years. According to the International Energy Agency, we extract about 13 percent of rare earth elements here in the United States, China extracts 60 percent and Myanmar 11 percent.
The second part of the supply chain is processing. China processes 87 percent of the world's rare earth elements and mineral concentrates. China has used their advantages in both extraction and processing to control prices and supply, leading to volatility and significant disagreements with other countries. It's time we break up that monopoly.
Fortunately, countries around the globe are working to develop new supply chains for rare earth elements. In the United States, the U.S. Department of Energy, through Democratic and Republican administrations, has been awarding millions of dollars to fund extraction research, processing, and support for an American market for rare earth elements. The Biden administration and the U. S. Congress are increasing this important commitment. Real opportunities are there for us to create a better future for West Virginians to stay, rebuild and succeed.
We are all hopeful the pandemic will be a once-in-a-lifetime event, but we cannot count on it. It is time for America to start making things again. For too long, we have relied on the ingenuity of other countries. We cannot ignore the peril in which we place the United States without better control of our manufacturing supply chains. It is critical that we put aside our political differences to help our state and country prosper.
I recently had an opportunity to join with other legislators in a meeting with U. S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and U. S. Senator Joe Manchin. Secretary Granholm said that West Virginia has been left behind, but better days are coming. She emphasized President Biden's commitment to our state. Helping West Virginia seize this rare opportunity to play a pivotal role in the future of rare earth elements is a great start on that promise.
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Sen. Glenn Jeffries represents the 8th senatorial district in the West Virginia State Senate. He is the president of Cornerstone Interiors and lives in Red House.