Application for National Core Technology Designation
for Recovery of Critical Minerals such as Bismuth, Indium, Antimony, and Tellurium
Korea Zinc announced on December 29 that it has applied to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the designation of its "rare metal concentration and recovery technology using integrated zinc, lead, and copper smelting processes" as a national core technology.
Rare metals are essential materials for advanced and defense industries, and are considered critical minerals that major countries and companies worldwide are striving to secure. Korea Zinc expects that if this technology is designated as a national core technology, it will help protect technologies directly linked to the national economy and security, and stably enhance the competitiveness of domestic advanced and defense industries.
The technology applied for by Korea Zinc is a production technology that recovers bismuth, indium, antimony, and tellurium-rare metals and critical minerals-by circulating and concentrating by-products generated from the integrated zinc, lead, and copper smelting processes, rather than simply disposing of them. By reprocessing by-products generated in one smelting process together with those from other smelting processes, the concentration rate is increased, and by repeating this process, the concentration rate is maximized.
The technology submitted this time is an integrated process technology that encompasses various rare metal extraction and production processes, and also partially includes antimony production technology. Previously, in November last year, Korea Zinc applied for the designation of its "antimony metal production technology using diaphragm electrolysis" as a national core technology. This technology can significantly reduce manufacturing costs and drastically cut emissions of air pollutants compared to conventional pyrometallurgical methods, and since antimony is an essential material for the defense industry, the need for national core technology designation has been raised from an economic security perspective. However, the antimony production technology was not included in the final list of national core technology candidates during the government review in May this year.
A Korea Zinc official stated, "At a time when the world is strategically utilizing critical minerals, it is extremely important to protect our technology and maintain Korea Zinc's competitiveness as the country's only critical mineral hub," adding, "We will do our utmost, together with the government, to protect national core technologies."
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