Inaugurated a rare earth research center in Hanoi

Rare earths are strategic resources that cannot be reborn. Many modern technologies cannot be implemented without rare earths. The Center for Research and Transfer of Rare Earth Technology with the transfer of Japanese technology has laid the foundation for this strong industry of Vietnam.

In the morning of June 16 in Dong Thap commune, Dan Phuong district, Hanoi, the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam inaugurated the Center for Research and Transfer of Rare Earth Technology. This is the result of cooperation between Japan and Vietnam.

Requires technology cooperation

Rare earth is a precious resource of our country and its reserves are ranked third in the world. Demand for rare earth in the world is very stressful to meet the demand for high-tech development.

China is a country that supplies up to 90% of world demand, but it claims to reduce export volume on the grounds that it is necessary to limit domestic environmental pollution, which makes it difficult for industrialized countries.

Rare Earth Research Center has just been inaugurated
in Dong Thap commune, Dan Phuong, Hanoi. (Photo: Nguyen An)

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Khac Vinh, Vietnam General Geology Association (Hanoi November 5, 2010), Vietnam has had researches on rare earths 50 years ago . The biggest difficulty in rare earth mining is they have very low content, very similar chemical properties, so it is difficult to separate each element in pure form and with very toxic elements, especially radioactive elements.

Rare earth mining requires high-tech processes, especially on a large scale. Therefore international cooperation to transfer technology and equipment is an urgent requirement.

In the strategic cooperation plan between Vietnam and Japan, the two governments agreed to choose two major directions for cooperation: technology transfer and equipment for nuclear power and rare earth industry.

The milestone of Vietnamese - Japanese cooperation

Based on the agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Vietnam on cooperation in the development of rare earth industry in Vietnam by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda signed on October 31, 2011, experts The two countries have worked hard to establish a Center for Research and Transfer of Rare Earth Technology in Vietnam.

The mission of the center is: Scientific research and development of advanced environmentally friendly technologies for processing after rare earth ores to obtain products with high cleanliness; Manufacture of rare earth metals and alloys; Waste management in the process of rare earth processing; Developing high value-added technologies, materials and products from Vietnam's rare earths; Training researchers and technical staff for rare earth technology.

'The birth of the Center is a milestone marking the scientific and technological cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, which is a specific activity of the strategic partnership between the two countries' - Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Viet Thanh evaluated.

We hope Vietnam will research and exploit rare earth processing in the TOP world.