Türkiye, US discuss rare-earth metal extraction in western Anatolia

Türkiye is negotiating with the US on rare-earth element deposits in western Anatolia after talks with China and Russia stalled over technology and processing rights, according to people familiar with the matter. 

Ankara and Washington are exploring a potential partnership to develop a large rare-earth deposit recently discovered near Eskişehir in central Anatolia, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bloomberg.

The elements identified include cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium, although the quality of the ore has yet to be determined.

Both countries are working to deepen cooperation in the energy and defence sectors following a meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House last month.

The informed people noted that if Trump and Erdogan agree on joint processing of the discovered elements, it could override the previous agreement with China. Negotiations with Russia also failed to yield results.

Türkiye and China signed a memorandum of understanding on the project in October 2024, but discussions stalled after Beijing insisted that the materials be transported and processed in China, refusing to transfer technology.

Türkiye plans to build a processing plant and is also negotiating with Canada and Switzerland regarding potential collaboration, particularly a feasibility study needed to advance the project.

The country also intends to apply to the Australian Institute of Geoscientists for JORC code certification—a standard that sets minimum requirements for public reporting of exploration results and allows the size of deposits to be disclosed to potential investors.

These discussions with Western partners come amid US and EU efforts to limit China’s dominance in the extraction and processing of rare-earth elements—a group of 17 metals critical to defence, modern medical technology, and electronics such as iPhones, Bloomberg reports.

By Khagan Isayev