China’s Grip on Germanium Gets Challenged by New Congo Plant
- STL facility will also produce cobalt, copper and zinc oxide
- Plant was inaugurated by Congo’s president on Wednesday
Source: Susan E. Degginger/Alamy Stock
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A newly built plant in Democratic Republic of Congo aims to produce 30% of the world’s germanium, according to its owner, potentially easing China’s dominance of the metal used in electronics and solar cells.
China produces about 60% of germanium, according to Critical Raw Materials Alliance. The Asian nation restricted exports of the metal in August amid an escalation of a tit-for-tat trade war on technology with the US and Europe.