Author: Jo Constantz

RARE EARTH SUPPLY CHAIN MAY MAKE A COMEBACK IN THE U.S.

A year and a half ago, a consultant approached executives at Energy Fuels, a uranium producer in southeast Utah, with an intriguing possibility. Energy Fuels could use its uranium technology and permits to enter the business of rare earths––a crucial component in nearly every electronic device manufactured today.

TSMC 12-inch wafer

Pandemic disrupts supply chains and drives new era of techno-nationalism

These disruptions have brought supply chains of critical industries to the fore, revealing deep dependencies on China and its neighbors. The shortage has prompted a bipartisan push to restore semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, which has atrophied since the 1990s. While supply chains were moved overseas to cut costs, many companies are reevaluating potential tradeoffs in security. In light of the pandemic, government and private sector reassessments may usher in a retreat from globalization and a new era of “localization.”