Summary
- Ethnic army controls area accounting for nearly half of global heavy rare earths production
- Rebels seek leverage against Beijing, which invested heavily in rare earths and supports Myanmar’s junta
- Price of key mineral used in EVs and wind turbines has soared since rebel takeover
- India has expressed interest in the rare earths but faces major challenges
When armed rebels seized northern Myanmar’s rare-earths mining belt in October, they dealt a blow to the country’s embattled military junta – and wrested control of a key global resource.
By capturing sites that produce roughly half of the world’s heavy rare earths, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) rebels have been able to throttle the supply of minerals used in wind turbines and electric vehicles, sending prices of one key element skyward.