The state program of development of rare-earth metals in Russia up to 2020 is estimated at 145 billion rubles — the head of the Industry and Trade Ministry .
MOSCOW, October 18. / ITAR — TASS / . The state program of development of rare earth metals / REM / 2020 is estimated at 145 billion rubles, while the budget will be spent only 23.5 billion rubles. This was announced by the Minister of Industry and Trade Denis MANTUROV at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The state program will generate and create , in fact, an entire industry that provides a supply of necessary materials for the aviation, space , nuclear and electronics industries , which today is almost 100 % dependent on imported materials , said MANTUROV .
In the beginning of the meeting , the President asked the Minister for the development of Russian high-tech industries. » There is a problem not only financial security — access to credit , issues related to structural problems , there’s a question of resource support ,» — said the president.
Putin highlighted the problems in providing the industry with rare earth metals. «Once the Soviet Union occupied a worthy position in this sector , and now we have known issues » — complained the head of state.
Referring to the basic parameters of the state program , MANTUROV reported that for the tasks required 145 billion rubles, while the budget will be spent only 23.5 billion rubles. «It provides full funding for the development of the industry » , — assured MANTUROV head of state.
The minister is convinced that will set up a production chain from mining to technology development and production of concentrates of metal oxides , which will provide in the future is the production of finished products.
«In the next three years to implement the first phase of the program from the budget will be allocated 9 billion rubles. This will ensure a reserve, which will be implemented , and in 2020 will provide almost 100 percent independence from imports , in contrast to the situation in which there is today, » — he stressed.
He also noted that this program show great interest big investors , including state-owned corporations , » Russian Technologies » and » Rosatom » .
Rare earth metals — a group of 17 elements that are in demand in high-tech industries. The group includes the lanthanides / gadolinium, holmium, dysprosium, europium, ytterbium, lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium , promethium , samarium , terbium , thulium , cerium , erbium / and scandium , yttrium and lanthanum.
At present, China is still the largest producer and exporter of rare earth metals, according to various sources providing 90 to 97% of global demand .
According to experts the demand for rare earth metals will increase by 2015-2016 to 190-210 thousand tons, and by 2020 — up to 200-240 thousand tons of rare earth metals a year. Of these, 130-150 thousand tons will be consumed by China , which will close its needs itself .