Why can the strategic metal Antimony change the world's geopolitical situation?

DNVN - Antimony, a metal that once received little attention, has now become the new "black gold" in the context of global geopolitics. With its essential role in high-tech and renewable energy industries, China now dominates the supply of antimony, creating many challenges for the US and Western countries.

Antimony plays an important role in the production of semiconductors, batteries and solar panels, becoming a core foundation for high-tech and renewable energy industries. Photo: Tuan Anh/VNA

Hidden deep beneath the ocean floor, a long-forgotten story of a strategic metal is being uncovered. Antimony, a little-known metal, is now an element that could reshape the global balance of power.

More than a century ago, tragedy struck off the coast of Nova Scotia, a Canadian peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean. A ship transporting antimony was sunk by a German submarine during World War II. The sailors who hoped to make a fortune with this “mysterious” metal never achieved their dream. Antimony was largely overlooked at the time, but today it plays a strategic role in the world’s geopolitical chessboard.

Antimony is more than just a metal. During both World Wars, it was a key ingredient in bullets and explosives. Today, its value is even greater, as it is an essential ingredient in semiconductors, batteries, and solar panels. The United States Geological Survey says the country consumes more than 22,000 tons of antimony each year, reflecting its importance in high-tech and renewable energy.

The greater danger lies in the dependence on global antimony supplies. Currently, China accounts for nearly 50% of the world’s mining and 80% of its total supply of antimony. This puts the United States at risk of national security, especially as US-China tensions increase. Recognizing the danger, the Pentagon has stepped up measures to ensure domestic supplies.

Military Metals Corp. has emerged as a timely solution. The company is reactivating its West Gore Antimony Project, a major source of antimony in Nova Scotia. It has also invested in a large antimony mine in Slovakia, presenting opportunities as tensions between Russia and Europe continue to escalate.

“The acquisition of the West Gore Antimony Project demonstrates our strategy to become a major global supplier of antimony,” said Scott Eldridge, CEO of Military Metals Corp. “At the same time, this strategy is not just about business, but also about national security. The U.S. government is also increasing its investment to ensure domestic supplies of strategic minerals.

The future prospects for the antimony market are great. As the high-tech and renewable energy industries continue to grow, demand for the metal will increase dramatically. Against this backdrop, Military Metals Corp. is positioning itself as a key player in the geopolitical game of the 21st century.

From the position of a metal "buried under the ocean", antimony has now risen to become the "black gold" of the technological age. The story of antimony is proof that: The true value of an object is sometimes only recognized when the time is ripe. Antimony is a typical image of that.

Ganoderma (t/h)

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/vi-sao-kim-loai-chien-luoc-antimon-co-the-thay-doi-cuc-dien-dia-chinh-tri-the-gioi/20241126095710843