Mikhail Nikolaevich Yurin oversees the national technological leadership project «New Materials and Chemistry» at the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, which includes the development of the rare and rare earth metals industry. During the RAREMET-2026 International Congress, the Deputy Minister answered our questions.
Mikhail Yurin graduated from Perm State Technical University with a degree in Chemical Technology of Natural Energy Resources and Carbon Materials. He worked his way up from an operator to CEO at the enterprises of the Sibur Group, then headed the Department of Chemical Technology Complex and Bioengineering Technologies of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia. Since March 31, 2023 – Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. His area of responsibility includes national projects «New Materials and Chemistry», the development of metallurgy, composite materials and other basic industries.
– In November 2025, a roadmap for the development of the REM industry was announced. How is its implementation going today? What has already been done during the implementation of the plan, what problems have you encountered and how are you managing to solve them?
– In December 2025, the Russian Government approved the plan. It includes priority investment projects in the mining, metallurgical and processing industries, which are aimed at meeting domestic demand and creating full-cycle production and distribution chains for RM and REM. The plan is synchronized with the work on the RM REM Federal Project, and the key focus during this period was the development of a new special measure to support the industry. We are talking about subsidies to Russian producers of commercial RM and REM products (concentrates, oxides, metals) to compensate for lost income related to the provision of discounts to customers when selling products. The introduction of a discount compensation mechanism will increase the competitiveness of domestic products from RM and REM in relation to imported analogues and stimulate their use in the technological chains of Russian industrial enterprises.
– Within the framework of the national project «New Materials and Chemistry», goals have been set for the development of chemistry of rare earth metals – technologies for the production of highly pure substances, compounds and functional materials based on them. What specific tasks are the priorities in this chemical component of the national project? How do you assess the progress in the creation of production facilities for high purity REM compounds for electronics, optics and catalysis?
– We already have a number of enterprises with competencies in this area, such as Giredmet, Skygrad, enterprises in the Rosatom and Rostec perimeter. Their developments are integrated into existing technological chains. However, today the main goal is to build an economically profitable chain from extraction to production of separated REM oxides. We are solving this task jointly with Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation at the Lovozersk and Solikamsk magnesium plants. Access to REM oxides and high-purity metals will give us a significant contribution to the development of all high-tech product chains, be it laser materials, catalysts or materials for electronics.
– In addition to subsidizing manufacturers, what other mechanisms are used or planned by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to stimulate domestic demand for products made from rare and rare earth metals? Is the introduction of localization requirements or quotas for the use of domestic REM in high-tech industries, including defense industry and electronics, being considered?
– No doubt, we are considering different possible mechanisms to stimulate the domestic market, including customs and tariff regulation mechanisms to support domestic producers. Localization requirements under government Decree 719 already include requirements for the use of REM magnets, and as Russian manufacturers enter the market, similar measures will be implemented.
– Significant private investments are required in order to launch the full technological chain from mining to high-value-added products.
– Through the cluster investment platform, we support the most significant initiatives on key groups of rare and rare earth metals. According to our surveys, this measure is the most in demand by investors. We also use SPIC mechanisms to reduce the tax burden. Nowadays, a portfolio of investment projects has been formed for all chains of rare and rare earth metals, some of which are included in the Industry Development Plan. Among the projects, it is worth noting the projects of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation from the modernization of LGOC, the launch of separation production of REM oxides to the creation of a production complex for rare earth magnets. Areal company is also implementing a number of full-cycle projects on niobium, beryllium and lithium.
– You participated in the opening ceremony of the RAREMET-2026 Congress, which is taking place in Moscow on May 20-22. What results do you expect from the work of this event?
– We expect not only scientific discussions from the Congress, but also substantive agreements regarding the promotion of Russian REM products. I’m convinced that the combination of scientific research, government support and international cooperation will allow us to successfully replace imports of critical materials and take a leading position in the global technological agenda.
– Thank you for an interesting and informative interview!
Mikhail Yurin graduated from Perm State Technical University with a degree in Chemical Technology of Natural Energy Resources and Carbon Materials. He worked his way up from an operator to CEO at the enterprises of the Sibur Group, then headed the Department of Chemical Technology Complex and Bioengineering Technologies of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia. Since March 31, 2023 – Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. His area of responsibility includes national projects «New Materials and Chemistry», the development of metallurgy, composite materials and other basic industries.
– In November 2025, a roadmap for the development of the REM industry was announced. How is its implementation going today? What has already been done during the implementation of the plan, what problems have you encountered and how are you managing to solve them?
– In December 2025, the Russian Government approved the plan. It includes priority investment projects in the mining, metallurgical and processing industries, which are aimed at meeting domestic demand and creating full-cycle production and distribution chains for RM and REM. The plan is synchronized with the work on the RM REM Federal Project, and the key focus during this period was the development of a new special measure to support the industry. We are talking about subsidies to Russian producers of commercial RM and REM products (concentrates, oxides, metals) to compensate for lost income related to the provision of discounts to customers when selling products. The introduction of a discount compensation mechanism will increase the competitiveness of domestic products from RM and REM in relation to imported analogues and stimulate their use in the technological chains of Russian industrial enterprises.
– Within the framework of the national project «New Materials and Chemistry», goals have been set for the development of chemistry of rare earth metals – technologies for the production of highly pure substances, compounds and functional materials based on them. What specific tasks are the priorities in this chemical component of the national project? How do you assess the progress in the creation of production facilities for high purity REM compounds for electronics, optics and catalysis?
– We already have a number of enterprises with competencies in this area, such as Giredmet, Skygrad, enterprises in the Rosatom and Rostec perimeter. Their developments are integrated into existing technological chains. However, today the main goal is to build an economically profitable chain from extraction to production of separated REM oxides. We are solving this task jointly with Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation at the Lovozersk and Solikamsk magnesium plants. Access to REM oxides and high-purity metals will give us a significant contribution to the development of all high-tech product chains, be it laser materials, catalysts or materials for electronics.
– In addition to subsidizing manufacturers, what other mechanisms are used or planned by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to stimulate domestic demand for products made from rare and rare earth metals? Is the introduction of localization requirements or quotas for the use of domestic REM in high-tech industries, including defense industry and electronics, being considered?
– No doubt, we are considering different possible mechanisms to stimulate the domestic market, including customs and tariff regulation mechanisms to support domestic producers. Localization requirements under government Decree 719 already include requirements for the use of REM magnets, and as Russian manufacturers enter the market, similar measures will be implemented.
– Significant private investments are required in order to launch the full technological chain from mining to high-value-added products.
– Through the cluster investment platform, we support the most significant initiatives on key groups of rare and rare earth metals. According to our surveys, this measure is the most in demand by investors. We also use SPIC mechanisms to reduce the tax burden. Nowadays, a portfolio of investment projects has been formed for all chains of rare and rare earth metals, some of which are included in the Industry Development Plan. Among the projects, it is worth noting the projects of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation from the modernization of LGOC, the launch of separation production of REM oxides to the creation of a production complex for rare earth magnets. Areal company is also implementing a number of full-cycle projects on niobium, beryllium and lithium.
– You participated in the opening ceremony of the RAREMET-2026 Congress, which is taking place in Moscow on May 20-22. What results do you expect from the work of this event?
– We expect not only scientific discussions from the Congress, but also substantive agreements regarding the promotion of Russian REM products. I’m convinced that the combination of scientific research, government support and international cooperation will allow us to successfully replace imports of critical materials and take a leading position in the global technological agenda.
– Thank you for an interesting and informative interview!