EVs to robots: Hastings rare earths boss eyes lithium’s ascent

The new chief executive of Wyloo-backed Hastings Technology Metals, Paul Brown, hopes robots will be to the rare earths industry what electric vehicles are to lithium producers.

Robots rely heavily on permanent magnets made from rare earths, an attractive source of structural demand for critical minerals miners operating outside the lithium spotlight. Mr Brown took charge of the Forrest family backed-Hastings on Thursday, a day after his official exit from Chris Ellison’s Mineral Resources, where he oversaw the lithium business.