China plans to introduce stricter environmental protection standards for companies mining rare metals, which could result in higher export prices for these important raw materials, Chinese state media reported on Friday.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection has already approved relevant regulations that will cut the amount of pollutants in rare metal mining activities, China Daily reported, citing officials. New standards will be published in early February and will reduce the allowed levels of ammonia emissions and limit radioactive elements and phosphorus, according to the state newspaper’s report of Huang Xiaoweijia, Vice President of the State Engineering Center for Rare Metals.
"The government will give companies mining rare metals two to three years to modernize their working techniques. If they do not comply with the standards, they will be prohibited from mining," said Huang. The restrictions are likely to result in higher production costs and higher export prices, China Daily quoted Niu Junglu, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Rare Metals Society. China produces more than 95 percent of the world’s rare metals and has recently tightened control over these raw materials by cutting export quotas and raising export tariffs. Rare metals are used in the production of a wide range of products based on advanced technology, such as iPods and wind turbines. (H)
