Türkiye has officially announced the discovery of the world’s second-largest rare earth element deposit, located in the Beylikova district of Eskisehir province. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the announcement following a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex, revealing that the site holds an estimated 694 million tons of mineral resources. The discovery includes approximately 12.5 million tons of rare earth oxides and notable quantities of barite and fluorite. These elements are considered critical for a range of advanced industries, including defense manufacturing, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, communications infrastructure, and space technology.
Erdogan emphasized that the site will remain under national ownership, rejecting claims that the strategic deposit would be transferred to any foreign entity. He stated that Türkiye’s focus is to fully develop the site using domestic expertise and resources, describing any contrary assertions as baseless attempts to mislead the public. The Beylikova discovery represents a major advancement in Türkiye’s goal to establish itself as a key player in the global rare earth market, which is currently concentrated in a few countries. Extensive exploration work, involving 125,000 meters of drilling across 310 locations, has confirmed the large-scale potential of the deposit.
The government has outlined an ambitious plan to make Türkiye one of the top five global producers of rare earth elements. State-owned Eti Maden is leading the development of the site and has already established a pilot production facility capable of processing 1,200 tons of ore annually. Efforts are underway to expand this into an industrial-scale operation that will include purification technology, an advanced process essential for refining rare earth elements. Türkiye’s move to master this stage of production is seen as crucial to capturing greater value from its mineral wealth and reducing dependence on imported refined materials. Erdogan also noted that while international collaboration may be necessary for technology transfer and consultation, it will not affect Türkiye’s sovereignty over its resources. Negotiations with technologically advanced nations and organizations are ongoing to facilitate expertise exchange without compromising national interests.
In response to public speculation, Türkiye’s Presidency Communications Directorate Disinformation Response Center issued a formal statement rejecting claims that the Beylikova site would be transferred to the United States. The statement reaffirmed that all exploration and development efforts are being carried out using domestic and national resources in line with the country’s strategic mineral policy. The center described false claims circulating online as deliberate misinformation aimed at undermining Türkiye’s economic independence. It urged citizens to rely solely on verified official communications.
Erdogan linked this discovery to Türkiye’s broader energy and resource independence strategy, highlighting other major projects such as the Sakarya Gas Field, which supplies natural gas to millions of households, and the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, which is expected to begin power generation soon. Together, these initiatives represent Türkiye’s integrated approach to securing critical resources, boosting industrial capacity, and supporting the nation’s transition toward a more self-reliant and sustainable energy and technology landscape.
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