Paris: France aims to reclaim its industrial sovereignty in rare earths and permanent magnets through a national resilience plan, a government statement said on Wednesday. The statement came after Economy Minister Roland Lescure and Minister Delegate for Industry Sebastien Martin presented a national resilience plan on rare earths and permanent magnets. "This plan marks a decisive step in reclaiming a strategic industrial sector," the statement said.

According to Anadolu Agency, the current energy crisis, marked by tensions in the Middle East, underscores the importance of transforming France's economic model toward a decarbonized economy while securing independence and "avoiding substituting one dependency for another." The statement highlighted that more than 85% of global rare earth separation capacity is concentrated in a single country, exposing Europe to significant risks, including geopolitical tensions, export restrictions, and supply disruptions.

The statement also noted that European demand for permanent magnets is projected to reach up to 45,000 tons by 2030, driven by electromobility and renewable energy sectors. "Faced with this strategic risk, France refuses dependence and chooses to act," it added. The strategy outlined in the statement is designed across the entire value chain, focusing on three complementary priorities: securing supplies, rebuilding a complete industrial value chain in France and Europe, and structuring demand to guarantee sustainable outlets for the sector.

The ambition, as stated, is to position France among the nations capable of mastering its industrial destiny. The plan aims for France to cover 10% of global demand for heavy rare earths-more than enough to meet French needs-and 25% of European needs in light rare earths by 2030.