Geologist Shuts Down Lukashenko’s Plans

• 10.03.2025, 12:21

Mining rare earth metals in Belarus is currently unfeasible.

Vasil Kolb, Deputy Director General of the Scientific and Production Center for Geology, stated in a state TV interview that several rare earth metals and elements, such as molybdenum and thulium, were discovered in Belarus during the Soviet era. However, these deposits lie at considerable depths of 200–250 meters, making industrial-scale extraction impossible at this time.

Kolb also noted that Belarusian specialists lack experience in mining such resources. Even assessing the potential of these deposits—determining their depth, calculating reserves, and developing extraction technology—would require assistance from Russian experts.

"Only then can we evaluate whether it is economically viable to proceed with detailed exploration and eventually discuss extraction," he said.

Kolb added that in Ukraine, rare earth deposits are located at shallower depths than in Belarus:

“It means, making extraction there more cost-effective, while in Belarus, it remains inefficient or unjustified.”

On March 4, Aliaksandr Lukashenka instructed Deputy Prime Minister Yury Shuleika to "dig in" and "excavate" to see "what lies beneath Belarusian soil."