普京深知稀土管制威力，他明白俄罗斯不能受制于人，稀土必须自主

Core Viewpoint - Russia is accelerating the development of its rare earth industry to overcome its long-standing issue of having abundant resources but lacking a complete industrial chain, recognizing that dependence on rare earths is not only an economic issue but also a matter of national sovereignty [1][3]. Group 1: Industry Development - Russia has initiated its largest-ever rare earth industry development plan, investing over 700 billion rubles (approximately 63 billion yuan) to establish a key metal deep processing cluster in Siberia [5]. - The project aims to control the entire industrial chain from mining to processing, with a focus on regions rich in rare earth deposits and access to cheap hydroelectric power [5][6]. - The first batch of five refining plants is expected to be operational by 2026, addressing logistical challenges and creating 3,500 jobs, which will help alleviate population loss in Siberia [8]. Group 2: Strategic Importance - The Russian government views the self-sufficiency in rare earths as crucial for national security, especially in light of Western export controls that have cut off access to essential mining equipment [5][11]. - The planned increase in annual rare earth production from 0.01 million tons in 2024 to 50,000 tons by 2030, with over 60% being high-purity oxides, aims to meet domestic military and high-end manufacturing needs [10][11]. - If successful, Russia could become the third-largest rare earth supplier globally, altering the existing supply landscape and providing more options for "global south" countries [11]. Group 3: Challenges and Responses - Russia faces significant challenges, including harsh mining conditions and high operational costs, compounded by technological barriers imposed by China [11]. - The government has allocated 60 billion rubles for research and development to improve refining purity and recovery rates, currently at 99.2% and 65% respectively [6][11]. - Collaboration with countries like Belarus and India is being pursued to overcome Western technological barriers [6].