Russia has a development plan for rare earths, but there is currently no demand!

Russia has neither electronic products nor computers, so even with more rare earths, they would be of no use.

On January 17, the article by expert Polina Nosova was published in Russia Today.

The rare earth industry development plan signed by Russia at the end of last year will cover the entire industry chain: from geological exploration to processing.

In October last year, Igor Demidov, general manager of the company "Arctic Lithium," stated: "The production of rare earth metals and heavy rare earth metals is limited not because of high taxes, but because there is not enough domestic consumption. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the state have reduced the mineral resource tax on rare earths, but this has not provided significant momentum for the industry's development."

"We have 28.5 million tons of rare earth metals, while annual consumption is only 2,500 tons."

"What is more important here is the development of primary processing technology and the activation of separation capacity."

Russia ranks approximately fourth in world resource reserves.

China is first, Canada second, Greenland third, which is why Trump claimed he wanted to incorporate it into his territory.

Russia actually does not mine rare earths, because it doesn't need to.

The countries that mine rare earths are those that lead in progress; they export far more than just oil, fish, natural gas, and timber.

China is number one.

Of the 390,000 tons of rare earths mined globally in 2024, China accounted for 270,000 tons, and the United States mined 45,000 tons.

Russia mined 2,500 tons.

The problem is that Russia has neither electronic products nor computers.

Although we are also trying, it's of little use.

So 2,500 tons is our minimum necessary amount, and anything more is unnecessary.

In China, there are dozens of such mines, and in the United States and Australia, there are countless ones.

Even Myanmar mines 15 times more rare earth metals than us.

What else can be said! There will be no investment coming in.

Is it because Russia has no place to use these metals?

—Yes, there's no other way.

The rare earth industry is a rather complex and highly skilled field.

It requires experts and highly qualified geologists, as well as miners and technicians.

This is not as simple as cutting down trees.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1854519319061568/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.