London –
Forty years ago, a rare earth processing plant on France’s Atlantic coast was one of the largest in the world, producing materials used to make color televisions, arc lamps and camera lenses.
Current owner Solvay is rushing to return the La Rochelle plant to its former glory after years of reduced production, as Europe tries to boost production of the minerals fueling the green energy transition.
The plant’s 76-year history is a microcosm of the challenges Europe and the United States face as they try to reverse the mass migration of rare earths processing to China that took place about 25 years ago.
