Nordgold plans to develop Sardaninskoe field in Yakutia, where significant reserves of germanium are concentrated. This was stated by the company’s general director Georgy Smirnov at SPIEF-2025. The implementation of the project will open up new opportunities for Russian industry, reducing dependence on imports of this strategic metal.
Nordgold will invest 31.3 billion rubles in the development of the field. The asset was acquired in 2024 together with the Yakut Gas Processing Complex company, which owned licenses for the production of polymetals. Now geological exploration work is still ongoing, but preliminary data confirms the high potential of Sardana.
Balance reserves are estimated at 1.9 million tons of zinc and 592.2 thousand tons of lead. In addition, the deposit contains 1,430 tons of germanium, 9,592 tons of cadmium and 679 tons of silver. If Nordgold decides on dedicated germanium production, the cost of the equipment will be $20–30 million, and the annual production volume could reach 5–7 tons.
In Russia, only 10–15 tons of germanium are produced annually, and the entire volume is consumed domestically. More than 60% of the world market is controlled by China, which makes the development of its own capacities especially important. The price of germanium currently stands at $2,100 per kilogram, and growing demand for high-tech production only increases its value.
The launch of Nordgold germanium mining in Yakutia will be an important step to strengthen Russia’s position in the global rare metals market. Successful implementation of the project will not only satisfy domestic demand, but also create new export opportunities. Final decisions will be made after completion of geological exploration at the end of 2025.
The material was prepared with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Decade of Science and Technology
Source: @nerzhavey
