Technology and Rare Earth Metals for National Security and Clean Energy
About Us
Technology & Rare Earth Metals (TREM) are
essential parts of the clean technology and defense industries. Every
technology can essentially be defined as a collection of resources that does
something useful. Batteries, wind turbines, radar systems and missiles are
simply boxes of metals and chemicals that perform a specific function.
So, when policy makers state that their intent
to increase the number of hybrid or electric vehicles, to grow the proportion
of electricity produced from renewable resources, or to authourize the purchase
of additional tools for the modern war fighter, they are in effect making a
resource commitment.
Despite their importance, there exist severe
supply chain bottlenecks for TREM. Despite broad global resources, the world is
often reliant on only a few sources.
- Today, 97%
of Rare Earth Metals are produced in China, but without them, we cannot build electric
motors, efficient lighting, missile guidance systems, or wind turbines.
- 70% of
lithium comes from Australia and Chile, but without it we cannot build
energy-dense batteries, lightweight aerospace alloys, efficiently produced
glass or industrial lubricants.
- Almost 50%
of Cobalt comes from the Congo and Cuba, without which we cannot produce
battery terminals, superalloys for jet engines, or nuclear components.
- Russia,
China and South Africa produce nearly 100% of Vanadium, without which we cannot
have high strength steel.
The list of Technology Metals is longer,
and the TREM Center will continue to focus on different ones to rectify vulnerabilities
in the global technology metals supply chain.
Mission
The mission of the TREM Center is to ensure
secure and diverse supply chains for technology metals. This is achieved
through educational programs for
- Governments
and technology manufacturers on technology metal fundamentals
- Metal
producers and technology manufacturers on government processes
- Financial
institutions, consultancies and the general public to raise awareness of the
fragility of their supply chains
We exist:
- To connect
technology metal producers, technology manufacturers, governments and other interested
parties
- To provide
timely and useful insight on developments in the Technology Metals industry
- To educate
the general public on Technology Metals
- To
encourage and enable sustainable development