HEADACHE MINERALS
So let’s rebrand the conundrum – let’s speak about headache minerals reasonably than crucial minerals. The issue? That doesn’t sound almost as attractive.
Clearly, if one is within the enterprise of getting learn and constructing a model, as suppose tanks and lobbyists are, the very worst potential headline for a pamphlet, analysis paper – or, God forbid, opinion column – is one which concludes “all is basically wonderful”. One might as a substitute write “please, don’t learn this” and go residence.
However that doesn’t appeal to eyeballs. As a substitute, right this moment’s influencers will give attention to worst-case eventualities: provide chain Armageddon.
When will the scarcity of crucial minerals hit? “Quickly.” How unhealthy wouldn’t it be? “Extreme” sounds about proper, however greatest to say “harmful”. What and who will likely be affected? Level to every thing and everybody, however in the event you actually wish to be learn within the White Home – and that’s a should – say “nationwide safety”. What’s the mineral at difficulty? Decide essentially the most obscure component from the periodic desk, and name it “crucial”, “strategic”, or, even higher, “uncommon”.
The Heritage Basis, a Washington suppose tank near the Trump administration, produced a paper in December 2024 warning about potential shortages of crucial minerals undermining the defence business. Sarcastically, the paper sounds very very similar to the same one the suppose tank revealed in 1981, additionally warning about shortages.
One other Washington suppose tank, the Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research, revealed its personal report, flagging a “nationwide safety crucial” in crucial minerals similar to lithium iron phosphate.
We merely don’t know what American engineers will invent subsequent. However we will safely assume they are going to attempt to change no matter is in short-supply and costly.
