Rare earth mining in Myanmar: an environmental health crisis hidden by conflict

Rare earth elements (REEs), a group of 17 metals including neodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, are indispensable to modern industry. They are critical components in permanent magnets for electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, consumer electronics, defense systems, and medical imaging equipment. Global REE production reached 390,000 metric tonnes in 2025, with demand for magnetic rare earths projected to triple by 2035.1,2 The accelerating green energy transition has intensified global competition for these minerals, particularly heavy rare earths (HREEs) essential for high-performance magnets.