In his annual State of the Nation address to Congress, President Luis Abinader disclosed that preliminary geological studies have identified rare earth element deposits in the Dominican Republic with gross volumes exceeding 150 million tons. The government statement accompanying the announcement specifies the presence of 17 separate metals that, according to the statement, have potential applications across semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace components and military equipment.
Abinader outlined a timetable tied to the preliminary discovery: the administration intends to complete evaluation of the mineral deposits within the current year and to proceed with reserve certification by early next year. The government characterizes certification as a prerequisite for any move toward large-scale extraction and refining.
The statement and the president's address make clear that the reported 150 million-ton figure refers to gross deposits. It remains unspecified how much of that total would meet the technical and commercial thresholds required for exploitation. That uncertainty means a distinction persists between the headline gross estimate and the amount that could be converted into economically extractable reserves.
Linking the mineral initiative to broader policy aims, Abinader described development of the deposits as part of an energy transformation strategy and the "responsible use of natural resources." The government framed this approach as a means to bolster national sovereignty, reduce dependence on external suppliers, lower emissions and enhance competitiveness.
International interest in the deposits has been signaled, notably from the United States. The deposits are reported to lie in the Pedernales province on the national border. The statement recalls remarks made in February of last year by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said the world will need access to such resources to develop key technologies this century, and emphasized that the rare earths "belong to the Dominican Republic and its people," while offering U.S. support as a partner in their development.
Context limitations and next steps
The government has set deadlines for assessment and reserve certification, but has not provided further details in the announcement about the technical criteria, testing methods, or timeframes for converting certified reserves into operational mining and refining capacity. The extent to which onshore refining and downstream processing would be established domestically versus in partnership is not addressed in the statement.
As the administration advances the assessment and certification steps, supply-chain and industrial stakeholders in sectors that use rare earths - including electronics, aerospace and defense - will likely monitor developments closely for clarity on quantities, timelines and commercial viability.