Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical for many eco-friendly devices, such as solar panels and electric vehicle batteries. However, mining for these materials has proven wasteful in multiple ways. South Africa is adapting by finding new methods to extract REEs so humanity can continue to lighten its environmental footprint without eliminating advanced technologies.
The need for change
Transitioning to clean power is necessary, but energy demand has skyrocketed faster than many can responsibly keep up with. Local governments have struggled to rein in companies that fail to follow best practices for sustainability. On top of displacing locals and using dangerous work practices, rampant REE mining has expedited the elimination of Africa’s biodiversity. Considering the continent holds 15% of the world’s REEs, change is necessary to preserve its wildlife.
New legislation shaping the sector’s future
The Mineral Resources Development Bill (MRDB) is a 2025 piece of legislation that looks to tighten up South Africa’s mining industry. It provides regulations for managing mine tailings and closures and aims to align them with global targets while providing financial resources for environmental rehabilitation. This support is essential because tackling environmental issues cost-effectively is crucial for market success, shareholder interest, and a good reputation.
The official acknowledgement of small-scale mines also means they can take up more space in the market alongside large players. Closer monitoring of those bigger operations will help enforce these changes, which may necessitate investments in new technologies. The MRDB helps South Africa eliminate any confusion on compliance and coordinate its mining sector with customer and investor expectations for eco-consciousness.
A new project cleaning up mining’s act
In the field, a Johannesburg laboratory has discovered a method of extracting REEs from phosphogypsum stacks. These are byproducts of phosphoric acid production that are often treated as waste. However, Rainbow Rare Earth’s in-house lab has been able to achieve REE recovery of 65%, which removes long time frames, high expenses and crew risks.
This initiative is part of a rehabilitation project at a site in Phalaborwa. Three phosphate-fertilizer enterprises have owned it since 1964, but Rainbow signed a deal with its then-owner Bosveld Phosphates in 2020 to take charge. Rainbow CEO George Bennett said that around six decades of mining severely damaged the area and that insufficiency in regulations meant the phosphogypsum stacks were unlined and allowed to contaminate the groundwater.
To reverse this, Rainbow will reprocess the stacks for REEs and restack them in ways that line up with regulatory guidelines. Crews will neutralise the acidic water that the phosphogypsum created and use it for processing needs to eliminate the requirement for external sources. Rainbow will then sell the clean gypsum to allow Phalaborwa to return to its natural state.
Mining rare earths sustainably is crucial in South Africa and beyond
Initiatives like these from South Africa are only the beginning. Mining decision-makers can look for similar opportunities to clean up their local REE industry to follow in the country’s footsteps and advance the green futures of their workplaces.
Jane Marsh is a seasoned environmental journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of Environment.co, specialising in in-depth coverage of environmental trends, sustainability, and the evolving energy landscape. With her work featured on leading platforms like Renewable Energy Magazine, Manufacturing.net, and Nation of Change, Jane brings a keen perspective on the intersection of energy innovation and industry practices.