REE are important in the energy transition. In fact, all major infrastructures need to be rebuilt or adjusted and most often this comes with technology elements that depend on magnetic and or carbon element. These two elements are key: magnetic ore is being used for semiconductors, power generation, amongst others while carbon is being used (as a REE) together with Lithium for batteries.
In the more recent time, it appeared that the development of the energy transition is hitting a roadblock as extracting and refining sufficient REE was not covering the needs to manufacture cables, turbines, processors, bulb, sensers, amongst others.
The good news though is that companies active in the energy transition can count on new discoveries of the blue blue-gold in Republic of Congo. Elsewhere and particular in Latin America, many other REE are ready to be extracted, making it ever more likely that the green transition will create new commodity superpowers.