By Gokhan Basman, Editor: Janet Ekstract
Turkish Journal spoke to Senior Manufacturing & Operations Manager Gokhan Basman of Evergreen Metallurgical, LLC to better understand the role rare earth elements play in the global arena of tech and why they are so critical for all countries in the 21st century. Mr. Basman also explored the major role Turkiye plays as a supplier of rare earth elements and the major discovery in Turkiye in 2025, that puts it on the map as a potential major supplier for rare earth elements. This is crucial since most countries have been dependent on China to supply these. Turkish Journal asked Mr. Basman three main questions about the role rare earth minerals, currently play on the global stage.
TURKISH JOURNAL:
QUESTION 1: WHY HAVE RARE EARTH ELEMENTS BECOME SO CRITICAL FOR ALL COUNTRIES?
MR. BASMAN::
When we speak of the global energy transition, rare earth elements (REEs) are fundamental building blocks in this transition which includes digitalization, advanced manufacturing and national security. The demand for REEs has skyrocketed largely due to rapid growth of electric vehicles, renewable energy investments, artificial intelligence technologies and next-generation defense systems. Rare earth elements are also strategically important for the defense industry. They are widely used in radar systems, precision-guided munitions, electronic warfare systems, satellite technologies, advanced communication systems, missile guidance systems, and components used in modern military aircraft. As a result, many countries now regard rare earth elements not only as economic resources but also as vital components of national security.
TURKISH JOURNAL:
QUESTION 2; WHY HAVE RARE EARTH ELEMENTS BECOME SO CRUCIAL FOR MAJOR INDUSTRIES?
Rare earth elements (REEs) are no longer viewed just as mining commodities; they are fundamental building blocks in the global energy transition, digitalization, advanced manufacturing, and national security. The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy investments, artificial intelligence technologies, and next-generation defense systems has significantly increased demand for these strategic materials.
In particular, rare earth elements such as neodymium (Nd), dysprosium (Dy), terbium (Tb), and praseodymium (Pr) are essential for the production of high-performance permanent magnets. These magnets play a critical role in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, robotic systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and numerous advanced technological applications. Today, many high-efficiency electric motors and renewable energy systems would not be able to achieve their required performance levels without these materials.
QUESTION 3: WHAT IS TURKIYE’S ROLE AS A SUPPLIER OF RARE EARTH MINERALS?
Türkiye has the potential to become an important player in the global rare earth supply chain due to the rare earth deposit located in Beylikova, Eskişehir. The deposit has attracted international attention because of its reported size and the critical elements it contains. At a time when global industries are actively seeking to diversify supply chains and reduce dependency on a limited number of suppliers, this discovery represents a significant strategic opportunity for Türkiye. Given the growing demand for rare earth elements and the increasing emphasis on supply chain resilience, Türkiye is well-positioned to become an important contributor to the global critical minerals market.
However, the applications of rare earth elements extend far beyond magnet technologies. For example, cerium (Ce) is extensively used in automotive catalytic converters, glass polishing powders, and environmental technologies. Lanthanum (La) plays an important role in hybrid vehicle batteries, specialty optical glasses, and petroleum refining catalysts. Europium (Eu), terbium (Tb), and yttrium (Y) are key components of phosphor materials used in television screens, LED lighting, computer monitors, and advanced display systems. Gadolinium (Gd) is widely used in medical imaging, particularly as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), while samarium (Sm) is utilized in the production of high-temperature permanent magnets. Lutetium (Lu) and yttrium (Y) are used in advanced cancer treatment applications and nuclear medicine technologies. In addition, erbium (Er), ytterbium (Yb), and neodymium (Nd) play critical roles in fiber-optic communication systems, laser technologies, and telecommunications infrastructure.
A BROAD RANGE OF INDUSTRIES REQUIRE RARE EARTH MINERALS:
Rare earth elements are utilized across a broad range of industries, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, energy storage systems, semiconductors, smartphones, computers, data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, defense systems, aerospace technologies, medical devices, and advanced materials manufacturing. Many of the high-tech products used today are directly or indirectly dependent on one or more rare earth elements.
One of the most important aspects of the rare earth industry is that strategic value is not determined solely by the existence of mineral reserves. The real economic value is created through a series of advanced processing steps that follow mining, including beneficiation, separation, solvent extraction, refining, metal production, alloy manufacturing, and magnet production. Today, a substantial portion of this value chain is concentrated in China, creating strategic dependencies for industrialized economies such as the United States, the European Union, and Japan.
TURKIYE’S FUTURE IN RARE EARTH MINERALS:
Looking ahead, demand for rare earth elements is expected to increase even further as investments continue to grow in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, data centers, artificial intelligence applications, and clean energy technologies. Consequently, countries are focusing not only on discovering new mineral deposits but also on developing recycling technologies, diversifying critical mineral supply chains, and building domestic processing capabilities.
Rare earth elements are no longer solely a mining-sector issue. They have become strategic materials at the center of energy policy, industrial strategy, technological competitiveness, and national security planning. For countries seeking to remain competitive in the future global economy and technological landscape, securing access to rare earth elements and developing the capability to process them efficiently will be of critical importance.
Türkiye’s long-term objective should not be limited to mining and exporting concentrates; instead, it should focus on building an integrated industrial ecosystem capable of producing high-value-added products. One of Türkiye’s greatest advantages is its strategic geographic location. Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Türkiye has the potential to serve as both a logistical and industrial hub for critical materials. As the European Union seeks to diversify its supply of critical raw materials and reduce dependence on concentrated supply chains, Türkiye could emerge as a reliable regional supplier. This creates opportunities not only for the production of rare earth concentrates but also for rare earth oxides, refined metals, alloys, and permanent magnets. The development of a domestic rare earth industry would provide benefits extending well beyond mining revenues. It could stimulate advanced manufacturing investments, create highly skilled employment opportunities, strengthen research and development activities, encourage university-industry collaboration, and increase exports of high-value products. Furthermore, a robust rare earth industry could support the growth of strategic sectors such as electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, defense systems, aerospace, advanced electronics, and next-generation manufacturing.
CAPITAL INVESTMENT IS CRUCIAL IN THE RARE EARTH SECTOR:
Looking ahead, Türkiye’s ambition should extend beyond becoming a mining nation. It should aim to establish itself as a strategic participant in the global critical minerals economy. With the right investments, industrial policies, advanced processing technologies, and international partnerships, the Beylikova project could become a catalyst for Türkiye’s emergence as an important contributor to the global rare earth value chain. Ultimately, Türkiye’s greatest opportunity lies not simply in producing rare earth ore, but in developing a fully integrated “mine-to-magnet” value chain. Countries that control the entire process—from resource extraction and processing to advanced materials production and end-use applications—will be best positioned to capture economic value, strengthen supply chain resilience, and secure a competitive advantage in the future critical minerals economy.
RARE EARTH’S MAJOR ROLE IN THE TECH INDUSTRY:
In telecommunications and information technology, erbium (Er) and ytterbium (Yb) are essential for fiber-optic communication systems, serving as signal amplifiers that support modern global internet infrastructure. Neodymium (Nd), erbium (Er), and yttrium (Y) are also widely used in industrial and medical laser systemS. Rare earth elements are also expected to play a growing role in future strategic industries, including space technologies, hydrogen energy systems, energy storage solutions, robotics, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and data centers. Lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), and neodymium (Nd) are already used in various hydrogen storage materials and may become increasingly important as hydrogen-based energy systems continue to develop.
When viewed from a historical perspective, major economic transformations have often been driven by specific materials and technologies. The First Industrial Revolution was powered by coal and steam, the Second Industrial Revolution was built on steel, electricity, and oil, and the Digital Revolution was enabled by semiconductors and information technologies. Today, the world is entering another major transformation. Electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced defense technologies, space exploration, and hyperscale data centers all share one common characteristic: their dependence on rare earth elements.
For this reason, many experts consider rare earth elements not only as critical raw materials but also as the foundation of the next technological revolution. Just as coal fueled the Industrial Revolution and oil powered much of the twentieth-century economy, rare earth elements are increasingly shaping the twenty-first-century energy transition, digital economy, and advanced technology ecosystem. Future technological leadership will depend largely on access to these materials, the ability to process them efficiently, and the capability to transform them into high-value products.
