Belarus president baffles specialists with search for rare-earth metals “We need to dig and see what we have”

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has raised the issue of the country's rare-earth metal reserves with domestic specialists.  

The head of state made the corresponding statement on March 4, emphasizing the importance of geological exploration, Caliber.Az reports via Belarus media.  

"This is a highly relevant topic," Alexander Lukashenko stressed. Due to well-known circumstances, the issue of rare earth material extraction is now widely discussed across the world.  

"They say we have rare earth minerals in waste deposits. We need to explore everything else as well—chemistry, oil, gas, and more. I have already set the relevant task for the appropriate minister," the head of state said.  

The president pointed out that geological exploration in Belarus is underdeveloped and remains at a low level. Moreover, the search for rare earth metals has largely been overlooked by domestic specialists.  

"The only one talking about rare earth metals is Trump in the United States. You haven’t given it much thought yet. These metals are never abundant in the earth. Maybe we have just as much as others?" Lukashenko posed the question to specialists.  

Addressing the deputy prime minister specialized in the corresponding sphere, the president continued: "That’s why the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection will have to work closely with you. This is the future. We need to dig, we need to see what we have in the ground."

By Khagan Isayev