V-Con is Stockhead’s investing focused video conference series, bringing you expert insights, panel discussions and presentations from leading analysts, listed small caps and industry players.

The world is beginning to appreciate the importance of a more globally diverse rare earth elements supply chain as the move towards decarbonisation continues to accelerate.

While a range of different metals will be needed to facilitate the decarbonisation transition, experts say rare earth elements have a particularly vital role to play.

Their electromagnetic qualities make them a critical component of permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors and wind turbines – two of the fastest growing industries of today’s global economy.

As these markets grow, so too does the demand for rare earths, but the pace of acceleration is what experts fear could lead to an outstripping of current sources, creating bottlenecks and straining fragile supply chains.

Adding fuel to the fire is the domination of the market by China, which accounts for 85-90% of the supply chain when it comes to refining the material.

But an awakening in the space has sparked strategic investment in rare earth developers from governments and companies looking to build local processing capacity.

Speaking with a handful of companies making waves in the sector — along with industry experts — Stockhead investigates current market conditions and the outlook for the ever-growing rare earths space.

Session 1 – Expert Interview

Sky News and CNBC business journalist Oriel Morrison interviews Warwick Grigor.

Warwick has been involved with equity markets for over 40 years, sometimes as a stockbroker, sometimes as a corporate advisor and sometimes as a financier and more recently as a mentor to CEOs.

Session 2 – Company Presentations

Arafura Resources (ASX:ARU)
Lloyd Kaiser, GM Sales and Marketing

Arafura Resources is an Australian company with a world class neodymium-praseodymium resource. The Nolans Project will encompass a mine, process plant and related infrastructure to be constructed and located 135km north of Alice Springs in Australia’s NT.

Ionic Rare Earths (ASX:IXR)
Tim Harrison, Managing Director

Ionic Rare Earth is focused on developing its flagship Makuutu Rare Earths project in Uganda into a significant, low-cost, supplier of high-value critical and heavy rare earths.

Lanthanein Resources (ASX:LNR)
Brian Thomas, Technical Director

Lanthanein Resources is a Rare Earth Elements  exploration company with projects in WA and SA. The company is focused on creating a sustainable future by providing critical metals to support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

RareX (ASX:REE)
Jeremy Robinson, Managing Director & Founder

RareX Limited is focused on developing the Cummins Range Rare Earths Project for the supply of NdPr dominant rare earth concentrates to the burgeoning EV and renewables market.

Infinity Stone Ventures (CSE:GEMS)
Zayn Kalyan, CEO

Infinity Stone is meeting the demand from battery and wind turbine manufacturers, nuclear and hydrogen energy producers, and energy metals speculators by acquiring 100% interest in critical mineral deposits and occurrences in North American manufacturing hubs.

Mount Ridley Mines (ASX:MRD)
Guy Le Page, Non-Executive Director

Mount Ridley Mines is an explorer, focused primarily on projects in the Fraser Range region, Western Australia, with the potential to host major mineral deposits in base and precious metals.