Chinese SOE achieves breakthroughs in rare-earth exploration

NANCHANG, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- China Rare Earth Group Co., Ltd., a state-owned enterprise (SOE), has achieved breakthroughs in mineral exploration, the group announced on Saturday.

The output of rare-earth oxides (REO) is projected to increase by 4.96 million tonnes, according to the group.

At a recent symposium and a midterm evaluation, experts concluded that the search for rare-earth minerals in Liangshan has seen remarkable progress.

Rare earths consist of 17 elements that are widely used in high-tech products ranging from flat-screen TVs to lasers and hybrid cars. ■