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Rare Earth Potential of Türkiye

Some facts and figures about Rare Earth Potentials of Türkiye

4/8/20252 min read

According to a report by the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) regarding rare earth elements (REE), a potential containing 1,348,898 tons with 99.5% Rare Earth Oxides (REO) content was identified.

In a subsequent report prepared by the General Directorate of Industry, it was stated that MTA's exploration activities had led to the identification of REE deposits in Eskişehir-Beylikova, Malatya-Kuluncak, Sivas, and Burdur. It was mentioned that approximately 52 million tons of barite-fluorite and bastnäsite-bearing material with an average grade of 3.14% REE was identified in Eskişehir-Beylikova.

In press releases and statements made in 2022, it was reported that through exploration works starting in 2011, a total of 125,193 meters of drilling and analysis of 59,121 samples revealed a REE potential of 694 million tons in the Beylikova district of Eskişehir. This deposit was claimed to be the second-largest REE deposit in the world after China's 800 million tons. Then Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Fatih Dönmez, stated that a pilot plant would be established initially, and later on, larger capacity facilities would be built to process 570,000 tons of ore annually, from which 10,000 tons of rare earth oxides would be produced.

Since not all details of these studies have been published transparently, the exact grade and other parameters are still unclear. However, with a simple calculation, if 570,000 tons of ore yield 10,000 tons of REO, this equates to a grade of 10,000 / 570,000 = approximately 1.75% REO content. Based on this figure, it is possible to talk about a REO resource of roughly 12 million tons.

While this may not make Türkiye the second-largest globally, it would still rank as the 4th largest REE resource holder after China, Vietnam, and Brazil.

Due to the low grades and lack of direct economic feasibility as a mining-only project, a strategy must be developed focusing on intermediate and end-product value chains to achieve greater economic benefits. In such a case, the lack of standalone mining profitability becomes less important.

Türkiye holds the potential to be a key alternative to China, especially for Western and European countries seeking diversification in REE supply. Therefore, despite China’s protectionist policies and restrictions on technology transfer, Türkiye could have a strategic advantage in collaborations with Western countries. If this advantage is utilized through technology and resource transfers, it would enable Türkiye not only to benefit from the USD 7 billion REE market, but also to participate in the trillion-dollar technological product markets via the establishment of a comprehensive REE supply, production, and technology value chain.

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