Türkiye Eyes Rare Earth Breakthrough With Proposal for Critical Minerals Authority

Türkiye is moving to strengthen its position in the global race for rare earth elements (REEs) and other strategic minerals, as a new proposal calls for the establishment of a dedicated critical minerals authority. The idea was outlined by Ibrahim Halil Kirsan, chair of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Mining Council, in remarks to Anadolu Agency, highlighting the growing economic and geopolitical importance of minerals that power modern technologies.

Rare earth elements, despite their name, are not always scarce in nature. However, their extraction, processing, and refining are technically complex and capital-intensive. These materials are indispensable for electric vehicles, advanced batteries, renewable energy systems, industrial robotics, consumer electronics, and defense technologies. As a result, they have become central to global supply chain competition and are intensifying trade disputes among China, the United States, and the European Union.

Kirsan framed this shift within a broader historical context, describing the current moment as part of a transformative industrial phase. “The world is heading toward a mineral supply crisis, similar to the oil shocks of the 1970s — minerals are becoming the new oil,” he said. The comparison underscores how access to raw materials is once again reshaping global power balances, much as energy security did half a century ago.

Rare Earths and National Security

According to Kirsan, the accelerating pace of digitalization, electrification, and clean energy adoption has pushed developed economies to reframe critical minerals as a matter of national security rather than as mere industrial inputs. Technologies that underpin climate goals, defense systems, and next-generation manufacturing all rely heavily on secure and predictable access to these resources.

China currently dominates the sector, controlling roughly 70% of global critical mineral production as of last year. Even more striking is its grip on processing capabilities. “Currently, China holds a 90% monopoly in refining rare earth worldwide, and it doesn’t share its technology with other countries,” Kirsan said. This concentration has heightened concerns among Western economies and intensified efforts to diversify supply chains.

Türkiye’s Strategic Advantage in Critical Minerals

Positioned at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Türkiye sees itself as a natural candidate to play a larger role in the critical minerals landscape. Kirsan emphasized that the country’s geological profile supports this ambition. Türkiye ranks eighth among 168 countries in mineral diversity, 22nd in reserves, and 28th in overall mineral value, placing it among the more resource-rich nations globally.

These rankings, combined with its strategic location and industrial base, have led Kirsan to describe Türkiye as “one of the leading candidates in the field of REEs.” The challenge, he noted, lies not only in identifying deposits but also in developing the technological and institutional capacity to extract and process them efficiently.

Progress at the Beylikova REE Pilot Plant

Concrete steps are already underway. Kirsan pointed to ongoing work at Eti Maden’s Beylikova rare earth elements pilot plant in central Türkiye. Following encouraging results from earlier experimental studies, the facility represents a critical testing ground for transforming raw geological potential into commercially viable production.

However, moving from pilot-scale success to whole industrial operation will require advanced refining technologies that are currently concentrated in a handful of countries. To bridge this gap, Kirsan stressed the importance of international partnerships. Joint efforts with the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and European countries with rare-earth processing expertise could be decisive in unlocking Türkiye’s REE reserves.

Call for a National Critical Minerals Strategy

Beyond technology transfer, Kirsan argued that institutional reform is essential. He called for the preparation of a national critical minerals strategy alongside the creation of a vital minerals technology authority. Such an entity would coordinate research, production, and policy efforts across public institutions, universities, and the private sector.

Currently, responsibility for rare earth elements in Türkiye is fragmented across three ministries. The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry oversees raw materials, the Industry and Technology Ministry handles processed products, and the National Defense Ministry focuses on defense-related applications. While each plays a vital role, Kirsan suggested that this division can slow decision-making and dilute strategic focus.

“Establishing the legal infrastructure for this proposed structure, including its missions and regulations, through a commission of experts from these three ministries would benefit Türkiye in its REE operations,” he said. A unified authority, he added, would be better equipped to evaluate mining potential, forecast supply-and-demand needs, and ensure that projects deliver tangible economic and strategic results.