ESKİŞEHİR, Türkiye — May 1, 2026
Turkey aims to become one of the world’s top five countries in rare earth elements, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced during a visit to the central province of Eskişehir.
Speaking at a local party meeting, Bayraktar highlighted the strategic importance of the Beylikova Rare Earth Elements Project, describing it as a globally significant initiative attracting international attention. He emphasized that access to rare earth elements has become a major global competition, often referred to as “mineral wars.”
Industrial Production to Begin This Year
Bayraktar stated that Turkey has already completed a pilot facility at Beylikova and plans to begin industrial-scale production within 2026. The project is expected to elevate Turkey into a higher tier in the global mining sector.
“Our goal is to rank among the top five countries in rare earth elements,” he said.
$600 Million Investment and Job Creation
The minister also announced a combined investment of approximately $600 million across three major projects in Eskişehir, including the Beylikova rare earth project, a lithium carbonate facility, and another industrial plant.
These investments are expected to create around 1,500 new jobs in the region and boost local industry, potentially turning Eskişehir into a key industrial hub.
Strategic Importance of Rare Earth Elements
Rare earth elements are critical for modern technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced defense applications. Bayraktar stressed that Turkey aims not only to extract these resources but also to process them into high value-added products.
He also underlined the importance of environmentally responsible mining, stating that production should be carried out “in harmony with the environment, not against it.”
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök