The Murmansk Region will become a centre for processing rare-earth metals

The authorities are planning to create a production cluster in Murmansk Region focused on the deep processing of rare-earth metals (REM). This was announced by Alexei Chekunkov, Head of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic. He emphasised the unique potential of the region due to the presence of large deposits such as Lovozero and Afrikandskoye. They hold significant reserves of cerium, lanthanum and neodymium.

In an interview with TASS, Chekunkov emphasised that Russia's Arctic zone plays a paramount role in supplying the country with rare metals (RM) and REM. ‘The Arctic is the concentration of a significant part of Russia's REM reserves and production capacities. This macro-region accounts for almost the entire production of such critical elements as niobium, tantalum, zirconium, gallium and rubidium. In addition, the Arctic subsoil contains significant volumes of rhenium, indium, lithium and scandium, although not yet involved in active development, which determines the long-term development prospects of the industry,’ the Minister emphasised.

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