A Shandong provincial new material production base for rare earths was recently approved in Linzi District, Zibo City, Shandong Province.

The industrial rare earth new material zone, the first phrase of project, is planned to cover an area of 1,500 mu (100 hectares) and focuses on the processing and high-end application industry such as rare earth luminescent materials, hydrogen storage materials, magnetic materials, catalytic materials and functional ceramics.

The city will step up its infrastructure development for the base, attract foreign investment, take active part in joint projects with domestic and foreign research institutes and improve its independent innovation and high-end product research and development capability.