Isu le-US rare earth minerals kufanele. . . Ihlanganiswe neziqiwu ezithile zikazwelonke zezinto ezingavamile zomhlaba, ukucutshungulwa kwezimbiwa zomhlaba eziyivelakancane e-United States kuzoqalwa kabusha ngokusetshenziswa kwezikhuthazi ezintsha kanye nokwesulwa kwezikhuthazi, kanye [nocwaningo kanye nentuthuko] mayelana nokucutshungulwa nezinye izinhlobo zokuhlanzeka okusha okungajwayelekile. amaminerali omhlaba. Sidinga usizo lwakho.
- IPhini likaNobhala Wezokuvikela kanye Nezokuvikela u-Ellen Lord, ubufakazi obuvela eKomidini Elingaphansi Lokulungisela Amasosha Ezempi Nezokuphatha, ngo-Okthoba 1, 2020.
Ngosuku olwandulela ubufakazi bukaNkk. Lord, uMongameli uDonald Trump usayine incwadi yokuphatha "ememezela ukuthi imboni yezimayini izongena esimweni esiphuthumayo" okuhloswe ngayo "ukugqugquzela ukukhiqizwa kwasekhaya kwezimbiwa ezingavamile ezibalulekile kwezobuchwepheshe bezempi, kuyilapho kunciphisa Ukuthembela kwe-United States eChina. ". Ukuvela kungazelelwe kokuphuthuma ezihlokweni okungavamile ukudingidwa kuze kube manje kumele kumangaze abantu abaningi.
Ngokwezazi zokuma komhlaba, umhlaba ongavamile awuvamile, kodwa uyigugu. Impendulo ebonakala iyimpicabadala ilele ekungenekeni. Izakhi zomhlaba ezingavamile (REE) ziqukethe izakhi ze-17 ezisetshenziswa kakhulu ku-electronics abathengi namathuluzi okuvikela, futhi zaqala ukutholwa futhi zasetshenziswa e-United States. Kodwa-ke, ukukhiqizwa kuya ngokuya kushintshela eShayina, lapho izindleko eziphansi zabasebenzi, ukunciphisa ukunaka umthelela wemvelo, kanye noxhaso oluningi oluvela ezweni lwenza i-People's Republic of China (PRC) ibe ngu-97% wokukhiqiza emhlabeni jikelele. Ngo-1997, iMagniquench, okuyinkampani ehamba phambili yomhlaba engavamile e-United States, yathengiswa kunhlangano yokutshala izimali eholwa ngu-Archibald Cox (Jr.), indodana yomshushisi wegama elifanayo, i-Watergate. Umfelandawonye usebenze nezinkampani ezimbili zikahulumeni waseChina. Inkampani Yensimbi, Izinto Ezintsha ze-Sanhuan kanye ne-China Nonferrous Metals Import and Export Corporation. Usihlalo we-Sanhuan, indodana yesifazane yomholi ophezulu u-Deng Xiaoping, ube ngusihlalo wenkampani. I-Magniquench yavalwa e-United States, yathuthela e-China, futhi yavulwa kabusha ngo-2003, okuhambisana ne-"Super 863 Program" kaDeng Xiaoping, eyathola ubuchwepheshe obuphambili bokusetshenziswa kwezempi, okuhlanganisa "izinto ezingavamile." Lokhu kwenza iMolycorp yaba ngumkhiqizi wokugcina womhlaba ongavamile osele e-United States yaze yawa ngo-2015.
Kusukela ekuqaleni kokuphathwa kwe-Reagan, abanye ochwepheshe be-metallurgists baqala ukukhathazeka ngokuthi i-United States ithembele ezinsizeni zangaphandle ezazingenabo ubungane ezingxenyeni ezibalulekile zohlelo lwayo lwezikhali (ikakhulukazi iSoviet Union ngaleso sikhathi), kodwa lolu daba aluzange luhehe umphakathi. ukunaka. Ngonyaka ka-2010. Ngo-September walowo nyaka, isikebhe sokudoba saseShayina sashayisa imikhumbi emibili Yamasosha Asogwini Lwasogwini lwase-East China Sea okunengxabano. Uhulumeni waseJapan umemezele inhloso yakhe yokufaka ukaputeni wesikebhe sokudoba enkantolo, futhi uhulumeni waseChina wabe esethatha izinyathelo zokuziphindiselela, okuhlanganisa nokuvinjelwa kokuthengiswa komhlaba ongavamile eJapane. Lokhu kungase kube nomthelela omubi embonini yezimoto yaseJapan, esongelwa ukukhula ngesivinini kwezimoto ezishibhile ezenziwe ngamaShayina. Phakathi kwezinye izinhlelo zokusebenza, izakhi zomhlaba eziyivelakancane ziyingxenye esemqoka yeziguquli ze-engine catalytic.
Usongo lwaseChina seluthathwe ngokungathi sína kangangokuthi i-United States, i-European Union, i-Japan kanye namanye amazwe amaningana afaka amacala ngesinqumo se-World Trade Organization (WTO) sokuthi i-China ayikwazi ukukhawulela ukuthunyelwa kwezakhi zomhlaba ezingavamile. Nokho, amasondo endlela yokuxazulula ye-WTO ashintsha kancane: isinqumo asenziwa kuze kube ngemva kweminyaka emine. UMnyango Wezangaphandle WaseShayina kamuva waphika ukuthi wawubeke umthetho, wathi iChina idinga izingxenye zomhlaba ezingavamile ezimbonini zayo ezisathuthuka. Lokhu kungase kube yiqiniso: ngo-2005, i-China yayibeke imingcele yokuthunyelwa kwamanye amazwe, okubangela ukukhathazeka e-Pentagon mayelana nokushoda kwezinto ezine zomhlaba ezingavamile (i-lanthanum, i-cerium, i-euro, kanye ne-), okubangele ukubambezeleka kokukhiqizwa kwezikhali ezithile.
Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ukubusa okubonakalayo kweShayina ekukhiqizeni umhlaba ongavamile kungase futhi kushukunyiswe izici zokwandisa inzuzo, futhi phakathi naleso sikhathi, amanani akhuphuka ngokushesha ngempela. Ukufa kweMolycorp kukhombisa nokuphatha okukhaliphile kukahulumeni waseChina. I-Molycorp yabikezela ukuthi amanani omhlaba angavamile azokhuphuka kakhulu ngemva kwesigameko phakathi kwezikebhe zokudoba zaseShayina kanye ne-Japanese Coast Guard ngo-2010, ngakho-ke yaqoqa isamba semali ukuze kwakhiwe izindawo zokucubungula eziphambili kakhulu. Kodwa-ke, ngenkathi uhulumeni waseShayina exegisa izabelo zokuthunyelwa kwempahla kwamanye amazwe ngo-2015, iMolycorp yasindwa yisikweletu sika-US$1.7 billion kanye nengxenye yezindawo zayo zokucubungula. Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, yavela ezinqubweni zokuqothuka futhi yathengiswa ngamaRandi ayizigidi ezingu-20.5, okuyinani elincane kakhulu uma iqhathaniswa nesikweletu sika-$ 1.7 billion. Le nkampani ihlengwe yinhlangano, kanti i-China Leshan Shenghe Rare Earth Company iphethe u-30% wamalungelo enkampani angavoti. Uma sikhuluma ngobuchwepheshe, ukuba namasheya angavoti kusho ukuthi u-Leshan Shenghe unelungelo lokungadluli ingxenye yenzuzo, futhi inani eliphelele lale nzuzo lingase libe lincane, ngakho abanye abantu bangase bangabaze izisusa zenkampani. Kodwa-ke, uma kubhekwa usayizi we-Leshan Shenghe uma uqhathaniswa nesamba esidingekayo ukuze uthole amasheya angu-30%, inkampani ingase ibe sengozini. Nokho, ithonya lingenziwa ngezinye izindlela ngaphandle kokuvota. Ngokombhalo waseShayina okhiqizwe yiWall Street Journal, uLeshan Shenghe uzoba nelungelo elikhethekile lokudayisa amaminerali eMountain Pass. Kunoma yikuphi, i-Molycorp izothumela i-REE yayo e-China ukuze icutshungulwe.
Ngenxa yekhono lokuthembela ezindaweni ezigciniwe, imboni yaseJapan empeleni ayizange ithintwe kakhulu ingxabano ka-2010. Kodwa-ke, amathuba okuthi iShayina asebenzise izikhali zomhlaba ongavamile manje aqashelwe. Phakathi namasonto ambalwa, ochwepheshe baseJapane bavakashela iMongolia, iVietnam, i-Australia nakwamanye amazwe nezinye izinsiza ezibalulekile zomhlaba ezingavamile ukuze benze imibuzo. Kusukela ngoNovemba 2010, iJapan isifinyelele isivumelwano sokuqala sokuhlinzeka ngempahla yesikhathi eside ne-Lynas Group yase-Australia. I-Japan yaqinisekiswa ekuqaleni konyaka ozayo, futhi selokhu yanda, manje isithole ama-30% omhlaba wayo ongavamile ku-Lynas. Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi inkampani kahulumeni yaseChina Nonferrous Metals Mining Group yazama ukuthenga ingxenye enkulu e-Lynas ngonyaka owodwa odlule. Njengoba i-China iphethe isibalo esikhulu sezimayini zomhlaba eziyivelakancane, umuntu angase acabange ukuthi i-China ihlela ukuphatha imakethe yomhlaba wonke yokuphakela nokufunwa. Uhulumeni wase-Australia uvimbe isivumelwano.
E-United States, izakhi zomhlaba ezingavamile ziphinde zavela empini yezohwebo yaseSino-US. NgoMeyi 2019, uNobhala-Jikelele waseShayina u-Xi Jinping wavakashela i-Jiangxi Rare Earth Mine, eyahunyushwa njengokukhombisa ithonya likahulumeni wakhe eWashington. I-People's Daily, iphephandaba elisemthethweni leKomidi Eliyinhloko LeQembu LamaKhomanisi laseChina, labhala: “Kungale ndlela kuphela lapho singaphakamisa khona ukuthi i-US akufanele ibukele phansi ikhono leChina lokuvikela amalungelo namalungelo ayo okuthuthuka. Ungasho ukuthi asikuxwayisanga.” Izingqapheli zabonisa, “Ungasho ukuthi asizange sixwayise. Igama elithi "wena" livame ukusetshenziswa abezindaba ezisemthethweni kuphela ezimeni ezimbi kakhulu, njengangaphambi kokuhlasela kweChina eVietnam ngo-1978 kanye nasembangweni wemingcele wango-2017 neNdiya. Ukuze kwandiswe ukukhathazeka kwe-United States, njengoba kwakhiwa izikhali ezithuthuke kakhulu, kudingeka izakhi zomhlaba eziyivelakancane. Ukusho izibonelo ezimbili nje, isilwi ngasinye se-F-35 sidinga amakhilogremu angu-920 omhlaba ongavamile, futhi umkhumbi-ngwenya ngamunye wesigaba saseVirginia udinga ngokuphindwe kashumi lelo nani.
Naphezu kwezixwayiso, kusasenziwa imizamo yokusungula i-REE supply chain engafaki i-China. Nokho, le nqubo inzima kakhulu kunokukhipha okulula. Ku-situ, izakhi zomhlaba ezingavamile zixutshwa namanye amaminerali amaningi ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene. Khona-ke, insimbi yokuqala kufanele yenze umzuliswano wokuqala wokucutshungulwa ukuze ikhiqize ukugxilisa ingqondo, futhi ukusuka lapho ingena kwenye indawo ehlukanisa izakhi zomhlaba ezingavamile zibe izakhi zokuhlanzeka okuphezulu. Enqubweni ebizwa ngokuthi i-solvent extraction, "izinto ezincibilikisiwe zidlula emagunjini awuketshezi ahlukanisa izakhi ngazinye noma izinhlanganisela-lezi zinyathelo zingaphindwa izikhathi ezingamakhulu noma ngisho nezinkulungwane. Uma sezihlanjululwe, zingacutshungulwa zibe yi-oxidation Izinto, i-phosphor, izinsimbi," ama-alloys nozibuthe, zisebenzisa izici eziyingqayizivele kazibuthe, i-luminescent noma i-electrochemical yalezi zakhi," kusho i-Scientific American. Ezimweni eziningi, ukuba khona kwezinto ezinomsakazo kwenza inqubo ibe nzima.
Ngo-2012, iJapan yaba nenjabulo yesikhashana, futhi kwaqinisekiswa ngokuningiliziwe ngo-2018 ukuthi kwatholakala inqwaba yamadiphozithi e-REE esezingeni eliphezulu eduze kwaseNanniao Island endaweni yayo yezomnotho kuphela, okulinganiselwa ukuthi ihlangabezana nezidingo zayo amakhulu eminyaka. Nokho, kusukela ngo-2020, iphephandaba lansuku zonke lesibili ngobukhulu e-Japan, i-Asahi, lichaze iphupho lokuzanelisa ngokuthi "ukuba nodaka." Nakuma-Japanese awazi ngobuchwepheshe, ukuthola indlela yokukhipha ekwazi ukuthengisa kuseyinkinga. Ithuluzi elibizwa ngokuthi i-piston core remover liqoqa udaka esigcawini ngaphansi kolwandle ekujuleni okungamamitha angu-6000. Ngenxa yokuthi umshini wokuhlanganisa uthatha imizuzu engaphezu kuka-200 ukufika olwandle, le nqubo ibuhlungu kakhulu. Ukufinyelela nokukhipha udaka kumane kuyisiqalo senqubo yokulucwenga, bese kulandela ezinye izinkinga. Kukhona ingozi engaba khona endaweni ezungezile. Ososayensi bakhathazekile ngokuthi "ngenxa yesenzo samanzi ajikelezayo, ulwandle lungabhidlika futhi kuchitheke olwandle imihlaba ebhobhile engavamile nodaka." Izinto zezentengiselwano nazo kufanele zibhekwe: amathani angu-3,500 adinga ukuqoqwa nsuku zonke ukuze inkampani yenze inzuzo. Njengamanje, amathani angama-350 kuphela angaqoqwa amahora ayi-10 ngosuku.
Ngamanye amazwi, kudla isikhathi futhi kuyabiza ukulungiselela ukusebenzisa izakhi zomhlaba ezingavamile, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zivela ezweni noma olwandle. I-China ilawula cishe zonke izindawo zokucubungula emhlabeni, futhi ngisho nomhlaba ongavamile okhishwe kwamanye amazwe/izifunda uthunyelwa lapho ukuze ucwengwe. Okuhlukile kwakunguLynas, owathumela insimbi yayo e-Malaysia ukuze icutshungulwe. Nakuba igalelo likaLynas enkingeni yomhlaba engavamile libalulekile, akulona ikhambi eliphelele. Okuqukethwe komhlaba ongavamile ezimayini zenkampani kuphansi kunalokho kwaseChina, okusho ukuthi u-Lynas kumele ambe izinsiza eziningi ukuze akhiphe futhi ahlukanise izinsimbi ezisindayo eziyivelakancane (ezifana no-s), okuyingxenye eyinhloko yokugcinwa kwedatha, ngaleyo ndlela andise. izindleko. Ukumba izinsimbi ezisindayo ezingavamile kuqhathaniswa nokuthenga inkomo yonke njengenkomo: kusukela ngo-Agasti 2020, intengo yekhilogremu eyodwa ingu-US$344.40, kanti intengo yekhilogremu eyodwa ye-light rare earth neodymium ingu-US$55.20.
Ngo-2019, iBlue Line Corporation eseTexas yamemezela ukuthi izosungula ibhizinisi elihlanganyelwe noLynas ukwakha imboni yokuhlukanisa i-REE engafaki amaShayina. Kodwa-ke, le phrojekthi kulindeleke ukuthi ithathe iminyaka emibili kuya kwemithathu ukuze ibe bukhoma, okwenza abathengi base-US abangaba sengozini yezinyathelo zokuziphindiselela zaseBeijing. Lapho uhulumeni wase-Australia evimba umzamo weChina wokuthola uLynas, iBeijing yaqhubeka nokufuna okunye ukuthengwa kwamanye amazwe. Isivele inemboni eVietnam futhi ibingenisa inani elikhulu lemikhiqizo evela eMyanmar. Ngo-2018, bekungamathani angama-25,000 wokugxila komhlaba ongavamile, futhi kusukela ngoJanuwari 1 kuya kuMeyi 15, 2019, bekungamathani angama-9,217 wokugxila komhlaba ongavamile. Ukucekelwa phansi kwemvelo nokungqubuzana kubangele ukuvinjelwa kwezenzo ezingalawulwa ngabavukuzi baseShayina. Ukuvinjelwa kungase kususwe ngokungekho emthethweni ngo-2020, futhi kusenemisebenzi yezimayini engekho emthethweni ezinhlangothini zombili zomngcele. Abanye ochwepheshe bakholelwa ukuthi izakhi zomhlaba ezingavamile ziyaqhubeka nokumbiwa eShayina ngaphansi komthetho waseNingizimu Afrika, bese zithunyelwa eMyanmar ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene zokuzungeza (njengeSifundazwe saseYunnan), bese ziyiswa eChina ukuze zibalekele isasasa lemithetho.
Abathengi baseShayina nabo bebelokhu befuna ukuthola iziza zezimayini eGreenland, eziphazamisa i-United States neDenmark, ezinezisekelo zomoya eThule, izwe elizimele. I-Shenghe Resources Holdings isibe umnikazi wamasheya omkhulu we-Greenland Minerals Co., Ltd. Ngo-2019, yasungula ibhizinisi elihlanganyelwe nenkampani engaphansi kwe-China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) ukuze ihwebe futhi icubungule izimbiwa zomhlaba eziyivelakancane. Okuhlanganisa udaba lwezokuphepha nokuthi yini engaluhlanganisi udaba lwezokuphepha kungase kube udaba oluyimpikiswano phakathi kwezinhlangothi zombili zoMthetho wokuzibusa waseDenmark-Greenland.
Abanye bakholelwa ukuthi ukukhathazeka ngokutholakala komhlaba ongavamile kuye kwaba ihaba. Kusukela ngo-2010, amasheya anyukile nakanjani, okungase okungenani kubiyelwe ekuvinjweni kweChina okungazelelwe esikhathini esifushane. Imihlaba eyivelakancane ingaphinda igaywe kabusha, futhi izinqubo zingaklanywa ukuthuthukisa ukusebenza kahle kokuhlinzekwa okukhona. Imizamo kahulumeni wase-Japan yokuthola indlela ephumelelayo ngokwezomnotho yokumba amadiphozithi acebile amaminerali endaweni yawo yezomnotho ekhethekile ingase ibe yimpumelelo, futhi ucwaningo lokwakhiwa kwezinto ezishintshayo ezingavamile lusaqhubeka.
Umhlaba ongavamile waseShayina kungenzeka ungabi khona ngaso sonke isikhathi. Ukunaka kweChina okukhulayo ezindabeni zemvelo nakho kuye kwaba nomthelela ekukhiqizeni. Nakuba ukuthengiswa kwezakhi zomhlaba ezingavamile ngamanani aphansi kungase kuvale ukuncintisana kwamanye amazwe, kube nomthelela omkhulu ezifundeni zokukhiqiza nokucwengisiswa. Amanzi angcolile anobuthi obukhulu. Amanzi angcolile echibini le-surface tailings anganciphisa ukungcoliswa kwendawo yokucwilisa umhlaba engavamile, kodwa amanzi angcolile angase avuze noma ahlephule, okuholela ekungcoleni okukhulu komfula. Yize kungekho okushiwo esidlangalaleni ngezinto ezingcolisayo ezivela ezimayini zomhlaba ezingavamile ezidalwe yisikhukhula somfula i-Yangtze ngo-2020, kukhona ukukhathazeka ngokungcola. Lezi zikhukhula zibe nomthelela omubi efektri yakwaLeshan Shenghe kanye nempahla yayo. Le nkampani ilinganise ukulahlekelwa kwayo phakathi kuka-US$35 no-48 wezigidi, okuyinani elidlula kude inani lomshwalense. Uma kubhekwa ukuthi izikhukhula ezingase zidalwe ukushintsha kwesimo sezulu ziba kaningi, ayanda amathuba omonakalo nokungcola okubangelwa izikhukhula ezizayo.
Isikhulu saseGanzhou esifundeni esivakashelwe uXi Jinping sakhala: “Okuxakayo ukuthi ngenxa yokuthi intengo yomhlaba ongavamile isinesikhathi eside isezingeni eliphansi, inzuzo ngokudayisa lezi zinsiza iqhathaniswa nenani elidingekayo ukuze kulungiswe. bona. Alikho inani. Umonakalo."
Noma kunjalo, kuya ngomthombo walo mbiko, i-China isazohlinzeka ngamaphesenti angama-70 kuye kwangama-77% wezakhi zomhlaba eziyivelakancane. Kuphela lapho inkinga isiseduze, njengango-2010 no-2019, lapho i-United States ingaqhubeka nokunaka. Endabeni ye-Magniquench ne-Molycorp, i-consortium ngokulandelanayo ingathonya Ikomidi Lotshalomali Lwangaphandle e-United States (CFIUS) ukuthi ukuthengisa ngeke kuthinte kabi ukuphepha kwe-US. I-CFIUS kufanele yandise ububanzi bayo besibopho ukuze ifake ukuphepha kwezomnotho, futhi kufanele futhi iqaphe. Ngokuphambene nokusabela okufushane nangesikhashana kwangaphambilini, ukuqhubeka nokunaka kukahulumeni esikhathini esizayo kubalulekile. Uma sibheka emuva kokuphawula kwePeople’s Daily ngo-2019, ngeke sithi asikaze sixwayiswe.
Imibono evezwe kulesi sihloko ingeyombhali kuphela futhi ayibonisi isimo se-Foreign Policy Research Institute. I-Foreign Policy Research Institute iyinhlangano engakhethi hlangothi ezinikele ekushicileleni ama-athikili enqubomgomo eyimpikiswano ngenqubomgomo yezangaphandle yase-US kanye nokuphepha kwezwe. Okubalulekile.
UTeufel Dreyer, uSenior Fellow of Foreign Policy Institute's Asia Programme kaJuni, unguprofesa wesayensi yezepolitiki eNyuvesi yaseMiami eCoral Gables, eFlorida.
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Isikhathi sokuthumela: Oct-09-2020