Lithium and tantalum production plant design launched in Murmansk Region

JSC "Arkmineral – Resource" in the Murmansk Region is developing the Afrikanda rare-earth metals deposit, has begun designing a processing plant. Construction of the complex, capable of processing approximately one million tons of ore annually, is set to begin in 2026–2027, according to a TASS report citing the company’s General Director Andrey Trenin.

He emphasized that key technical solutions for the plant are already finalized. This year, the company plans to register the reserves on the state balance sheet and develop a feasibility study, including reserve calculations. The facility will focus on extracting titanium dioxide, niobium, tantalum, and rare-earth metals.

Total investments are estimated at 28 billion rubles and will fund the creation of a mining and processing plant, supplemented by a chemical-metallurgical complex to produce finished goods. Annual production targets include approximately 66.5 thousand tons of titanium dioxide, 1,000 tons of niobium and tantalum, and 4,000 tons of rare-earth metals.

The Afrikanda Deposit, one of the largest in the world, is being developed by JSC "Arkmineral – Resource" with support from the Murmansk Region Development Corporation. The company plans to target sales to Southeast Asian countries via the Northern Sea Route.