The rare Earth elements fiasco

I think it was in April or May 2025 when Maruti-Suzuki pushed the panic button for a likely cutback in production of one of their popular models due to shortage of rare earth magnets.

- KRISHAN KALRA

Not a day has passed since then without the issue hitting our mainline dailies. It is a situation similar to someone waking up from a long slumber and realising that he had forgotten something very important! it’s a familiar story in our country and a problem that requires immediate redressal. Yet another task for the government and our brilliant corporate managers.

I was curious to understand the importance of these - hitherto not widely known - materials and also the way forward as China continues to ‘ration’ out the same. After reaching out to some scientist/techie friends in USA and browsing through mounds of information on the web, I decided to share a simple & cogent story with your eminent readers who are bound to find quick solutions to this blackmail by our northern neighbour. But, before that some basic information about the REEs - their genesis, availability and importance. Meantime the mayhem continues—albiet not too badly now - that threatens to seriously hurt not only our thriving automobiles industry but several other sectors too.

Following the Maruti-Suzuki outcry our alert Commerce Minister Mr. Piyush Goyal promptly assured everyone that “the government is in talks with China” and also urged for atmanirbharta. Indeed, there are possibilities of ‘self-reliance’ in this present monopoly of China but, let me first finish sharing some data about the REEs.