Russian mining company Areal will invest ₽30 billion in developing a lithium deposit in the Republic of Tuva. The project, located near the Mongolian border, was highlighted during the Russian Prime Minister’s recent working visit to the region. The new mining and processing complex is expected to produce its first output within the next two years.
At the Tastyg lithium deposit, Areal will build a mining and processing plant capable of handling 2 million tonnes of ore annually. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to produce 330,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate per year. The company has already invested ₽7 billion in the project.
The next stage of development involves constructing a downstream processing plant in Minusinsk, located in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Territory. The facility will convert lithium concentrate into lithium salts, which are essential raw materials for battery manufacturing, specialty glass production, and pharmaceutical applications.
At the same time, Areal is advancing another major mining project at the Ak-Sug deposit. In addition to copper, the operation will produce molybdenum and rhenium. The deposit is estimated to contain nearly 1 billion tonnes of copper ore, making it one of Russia’s most significant undeveloped copper resources.
The company also plans to build a molybdenum oxide production plant. Russia currently imports a substantial share of this material despite its importance to the defense, aerospace, medical, and energy sectors.
Areal’s investment program is expected to strengthen Russia’s domestic production of lithium and copper—two metals that are critical for batteries, electronics, and advanced manufacturing industries. For Tuva, the new mining complexes are expected to create jobs, attract investment, and support long-term regional economic development.
Source: Government of the Republic of Tuva
Image: Vladislav Khovalyg
