Caribbean Nation Discovers Massive Rare Earth Deposits Worth 150 Million Tons

The Dominican Republic has uncovered enormous rare earth mineral deposits totaling more than 150 million tons, which could make the Caribbean country a major supplier of materials essential for high-tech manufacturing. President Luis Abinader announced the discovery during his annual congressional address, outlining plans to complete deposit assessments this year.

The Dominican Republic announced Friday it has discovered massive rare earth mineral deposits that could transform the Caribbean nation into a major supplier of materials essential for high-technology manufacturing.

President Luis Abinader revealed during his annual congressional address that initial research shows the country possesses more than 150 million tons of rare earth elements in gross deposits. These 17 specialized metals are crucial components in semiconductor production, aerospace technology, and defense equipment manufacturing.

Abinader outlined an ambitious timeline to complete mineral deposit evaluations by the end of this year, with plans to certify the reserves in early 2025. This certification process represents a crucial milestone before any large-scale mining and processing operations can begin.

Officials have not yet determined what portion of the 150 million tons would be economically feasible to extract and process for commercial use.

The president connected the mineral development plans to his administration’s broader environmental and economic strategy, emphasizing what he called “responsible use of natural resources.” He stated this approach would enhance Dominican sovereignty, reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign resources, lower carbon emissions, and improve the country’s competitive position globally.

The mineral deposits are situated in Pedernales province along the Dominican border, and they have already attracted significant attention from the United States government.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the discovery in February of last year, emphasizing that global access to such resources will be critical for developing essential technologies throughout this century. Rubio made clear that the rare earth materials “belong to the Dominican Republic and its people,” while extending American partnership and support for their development.