Russia Says Rare Earth Mining Has Entered an Active Phase

Russia moves to develop rare earth deposits

Rare earth extraction in Russia has entered an active phase, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said in an interview with Vesti, according to Vedomosti. Russia accounts for 28 million tonnes of these mineral resources, giving the country a substantial geological base as governments and industrial companies seek more diversified supplies of strategic raw materials.

Manturov said the government is concentrating on obtaining the most finished products possible while developing deposits. The rare earth category comprises about 17 chemical elements, and Russia has deposits containing nearly the entire range, he said. The statement indicates that policy is focused not only on increasing mine output but also on retaining more processing and manufacturing stages inside the country.

Four regions identified as principal mining centers

Manturov named the Murmansk region, Yakutia, the Trans-Baikal territory and the Irkutsk region among Russia’s main rare earth mining areas. Their inclusion points to a geographically dispersed resource base extending from the northwest of the country to eastern Siberia and the Far East.

The official did not provide production targets, project-level capacity figures, investment amounts or commissioning schedules. He also did not identify individual deposits or companies involved in the current phase. The 28 million-tonne figure therefore describes the scale of Russia’s mineral endowment, but it cannot be treated as current annual production or as material immediately available to industrial consumers.

Domestic processing technology becomes a policy priority

Manturov said Russia must eventually develop its own technologies for rare earth extraction and processing because the materials are strategic. He added that other market participants are actively moving into this segment. For mining companies and processors, the policy direction places technical capability and the production of higher-value materials alongside access to deposits as central requirements for industry growth.

President Vladimir Putin discussed development of the rare and rare earth metals industry with permanent members of Russia’s Security Council on May 18. The issue must be addressed to support the country’s technological sovereignty and national security, according to the account reported by Vedomosti. The emphasis gives the sector a broader industrial-policy role, although the available statements do not establish when new output could reach the market. For producers, investors and industrial buyers, the next material indicators will be specific projects, processing capacity, product specifications and development timetables.