No quick fix on rare earths; raw materials scarce

There seems to be no quick fix in sight for India's rare earths predicament as it scrambles for magnets, slaps export curbs and weighs production incentives, while a delegation from the country waits to meet Chinese officials.

- T. Surendar

MUMBAI:

Issues related to raw material availability, global magnet supply, import duty structure and access to technology are key constraints that could delay any local manufacture of rare earth magnets in the short to medium term, said S.B. Mohanty, acting chairman and managing director of IREL Ltd, the state-owned rare earths company.