US-backed rare earth project in SA

In a strategic move to secure supply chains for clean energy and defense, the U.S. government has backed a groundbreaking mining project in South Africa.

The Phalaborwa initiative uses a new extraction technique to recover highly sought-after elements from enormous dunes of chemical waste.

Despite recent diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria, the Trump administration has prioritized this investment to reduce reliance on Chinese exports.

The project is expected to bolster South Africa's economy while providing the U.S. with a vital strategic reserve of rare earth minerals.