Partners from friendly countries to be attracted to rare earth metals cluster in Siberia - Russian first deputy PM
KRASNOYARSK. Dec 25 (Interfax) - The Angara-Yenisei cluster for the deep processing of rare and rare earth metals, which is being created in Siberia, involves attracting partners from friendly countries, First Deputy Russian Prime Minister Denis Manturov said.
"There is not just an idea, but a project being implemented for the Angara-Yenisei cluster, which envisages the involvement of large Russian companies and non-Russian ones as well, meaning our partners from friendly countries, in constructing enterprises and processing capacities, including for rare earth metals - for extracting concentrates and oxides for subsequent use, including in additive technologies," Manturov said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 television channel on Thursday.
"Primarily these are from Southeast Asia and the Middle East," Manturov said, listing potential partners. "These countries, on the one hand, have the technology, but, for example, lack sufficient natural resources, and are interested in creating such joint ventures. There is an opportunity to attract their own investments," he said.
Nine agreements have already been signed with major Russian companies, including Norilsk Nickel , Rusal , Rosatom, Rostec and Highland Gold (Areal). "A preliminary agreement has already been signed - this concerns producing permanent magnets and a wide range of finished goods from primary aluminum. This also cooperation with Norilsk Nickel in related production, which they currently have plans to locate in this region," Manturov said.
He said the budget planned to allocate 150 million rubles for the cluster's development in 2026 and 170 million rubles in 2027. "This is only the budget component. I am confident that the companies with which the agreement was signed will also provide their extra-budgetary component," Manturov said.
As reported, the cluster will be created in Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Irkutsk region, Khakassia and Tuva. Its goal is to turn Siberia's resource potential into a source of sustainable innovative development for the country. The project forms an ecosystem that unites the mining and processing of rare and rare earth metals and the development of advanced materials, microelectronics, energy solutions and artificial intelligence systems, based on close interaction between industry, science and education.
Manturov heads the cluster's board of trustees.
During his Q&A session on December 19, President Vladimir Putin said that companies should be attracted to invest in the cluster and should be provided with state support.
"These plans were generally formulated back in Soviet times. This region is very promising," Putin said. "There really are many opportunities there, both for mining minerals and for processing them, and for creating new energy sources to carry out the corresponding work. The logistics there are generally good."
