The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation revealed ambitious plans for the development of the extraction of rare and rare earth metals (RES), which should save the country from import dependence by the end of the decade. Fedroekt “Development of the industry of rare and rare earth metals” is aimed at increasing production from 29 billion rubles in 2024 to 100 billion rubles to 2030. Key metals - lithium, zirconium, niobium, tungsten, titanium, tantal and RES - will become the basis of raw material safety. Russia, with reserves of rare metals at the level of 658 million tons, including 28.5 million tons of RMZ (second place in the world), while mines less than 1% global volume.
production of large -sized metals (lithium, tungsten, etc.) should reach 50,000 tons per year, low -tonnage (tantalle, beryllium, India) - 80 tons. The main projects include Kolmozerskoye, Polomstundrovskoe and Yaractinskoye deposits of lithium, Tuganskoye - Titan and Zirconia, more Tagninsky - Niobia, Agnilkinskoye - tungsten. They promise a revolution in the industry, but require serious state support.
For example, lithium production starts in 2026 at a half -Stundrovsky deposit (20,000 tons/year), and by 2030 will reach 40,000 tons. The production of zirconium will grow 2.6 times to 16,000 tons, titanium - up to 158,000 tons on Tugan GOK. The production of RES will increase from 50 to 3,000 tons thanks to projects in the Murmansk region and the Moscow Region. This is a response to a global deficit, which, according to analysts, will intensify by 2030.
The President at the VEF-2025 instructed to approve the strategy of the industry by November, emphasizing the importance of the RMZ for technology and internal demand. However, experts warn of difficulties: remote regions, lack of financing and low profitability can move the terms of individual projects, in particular for the extraction of tungsten and molybdenum. Kolmozersky deposit looks the most worked out, unlike plans to launch prey for half a Mostundrovsky already next year.
