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Transcript/ScriptUS CHINA MINERALS
HEADLINE: US Announces Steps to Bolster Critical Mineral Supply Chain
TEASER: Currently, China controls most of the global market for processing and refining of rare earths and critical minerals
PUBLISHED AT: 02/22/2022 at 10:05 pm
BYLINE: Patsy Widakuswara
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Mia Bush, Holly Franko, DJones
CONTRIBUTOR:
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, AFP, Skype
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TV
EDITOR NOTES: Radio track included. There is an accompanying web ))
((INTRO: ))
[[The Biden administration announced on Tuesday actions taken by the federal government and private industry that it says will bolster the supply chain of rare earths and other critical minerals used in technologies from household appliances and electronics to defense systems. They say these steps will reduce the nation’s dependence on China, a major producer of these elements. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara has this report.]]
((F35 landing, AFP V000_VID684480_EN; Robot car manufacturing assembly, AFP V000_1GP0VG, Various Samsung phones, AFP V000_9VP7B2))
((NARRATOR))
To build military jet planes, we need rare earth and other critical minerals like lithium and cobalt. The same goes for cars, computers, phones and practically all other consumer electronics.
((Chinese flag in Shanghai, AFP V000_8RZ3ED TC 1:40, Containers in Chinese ports))
((NARRATOR))
Currently, China controls most of the global market of these minerals.
((https://app.frame.io/player/47ebb7d3-3a77-4833-8f3b-cbe9a323a8be ))
((President Joe Biden))
“We can't build a future that's made in America if we ourselves are dependent on China for the materials that power the products of today and tomorrow.”
((Continue Biden/ event))
((NARRATOR))
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced actions taken by the federal government
((Rare earth processing plant in Mongolia, AFP V000_VID338302_EN))
((NARRATOR))
and private industry that he says will bolster the supply chain of rare earths and other critical minerals – seen here at a Mongolian plant.
((Various WH event))
((NARRATOR))
The steps include a $35 million contract to MP Materials to process rare earth elements at its facility in California.
((Radio track: James Litinsky is MP Materials CEO))
((Will grab from WH))
((James Litinsky, MP Materials CEO))
“Your investment will complement more than $700 million that MP will invest by 2024 to create an American rare earth magnetics supply as you said these magnets are essential to our economy and the clean energy transition.”
((Various Chinese rare earths photos, AFP V000_VID406293_EN))
((NARRATOR))
Rare earths are not really rare minerals, just difficult and expensive to mine and process cleanly. The U.S. is the second-largest miner of rare earths after China, according to the latest government data. They are critical elements to transition to cleaner energy.
((Radio track: Phoebe Moon is a doctoral candidate at University of California, Irvine, focusing on global supply chain.))
((https://app.frame.io/player/65fb3a46-8471-4c96-88c4-4f249780e798 TC 1:14))
((Phoebe Moon, University of California, Irvine))
“We are using more hydro energy, we are using more climate and environmentally friendly energy sources, and the list of rare earth materials that the Biden administration announced that they will be targeting on this issue really has that in its heart.”
((Various mining waste, AFP V000_1IG1QJ))
((NARRATOR))
Other steps the White House announced include a pilot project to recover critical minerals from waste from mines and projects to recycle battery materials.
((Chinese spox, Reuters Edit No: 2018))
((NARRATOR))
Earlier this week, Beijing announced sanctions aimed at restricting access to rare earth minerals
((Patriot air-defense missile systems AFP V000_VID1161837_EN))
((Upsound of missile))
((NARRATOR))
by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, two American companies that provide maintenance services to Taiwan’s missile defense systems, which China considers its breakaway province.
((Continue with military hardware, file Congress, rare earth minerals))
((NARRATOR))
Last month, legislators introduced a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate that would prohibit defense contractors from procuring rare earths from China by 2026 and force the Pentagon to create a strategic reserve of those minerals by 2025.
((Patsy Widakuswara, VOA News, Washington.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Washington D.C.
Embargo DateFebruary 22, 2022 22:59 EST
BylinePatsy Widakuswara
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
