Is Russia in the same boat?

[Heat.Beat]

Curious as to whether Russia has significant post-mining processing and refining capabilities…
I didn’t pay close attention to the Clinton uranium deals and what Russia actually achieved (I assumed they had refining capacity there) but wonder if their nuke program had capability for relatively quick pivot to RE refining a la Energy Fuels?

Is there a triangulation play that obviously then affects Ukraine, NATO, etc al?

I’m sure it’s not that simple, more like hexangulation

 

[John]

I have a bunch of russian companies in my data set. But they are not going to change the rare earth world any time soon.

Most of the russian RE companies are not normal RE operations. ie they extract their rare earths from by products (fertilizers etc. ). They do produce some limited RE in concentrate/Carbonate form....etc.

the only main player is the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant. They do processing. Lovozersky does the bulk of the russian RE mining......but most of the processing is done by Solikamsk.

Again...globally insignificant.


The big thing with rare earths...is that you need a consistent and reliable supply. The magnet manufacturers need to tailor their processing systems to match that particular RE......buying from russia would be risky with sactions etc.

 

[John]

BTW - you can't say you have 'lived' till you have spent time in Russia. Amazing place. Both good and bad. And don't just go to Moscow...make sure you get into the the guts of it. Like Siberia.