Dominican Republic and EU sign Agreement to study rare earth elements in Pedernales

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican government and the European Union (EU) have signed a Joint Declaration to promote scientific studies aimed at characterizing and evaluating the potential of rare earth elements, gallium, and scandium found in the karst bauxite deposits of the Ávila Mining Fiscal Reserve in Pedernales.

The declaration was signed by Foreign Minister Víctor O. Bisonó Haza and EU Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Raúl Fuentes Milani during an event at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended by Energy and Mines Minister Joel Santos Echavarría.

Bisonó emphasized that gaining a clear understanding of the country’s mineral resources is essential for making informed decisions and ensuring that any future development is guided by sustainability, transparency, environmental protection, and the national interest.

Fuentes Milani said EU cooperation goes beyond financial support, highlighting its focus on generating knowledge, transferring technology, and strengthening the Dominican Republic’s technical capabilities so the country can make informed decisions about its natural resources.

Under the declaration, the parties recognize a grant agreement with the University of Barcelona for the mineralogical characterization of rare earth elements, scandium, and gallium. The initiative will also support efforts to strengthen national expertise, develop tools for sustainable mining projects, and promote additional non-reimbursable international cooperation programs.

The mineralogical characterization project has a total cost of €538,709.50, to be financed jointly by the European Union, the Dominican government, and the University of Barcelona. The funds will cover technical and scientific activities, specialized analyses, field research in the Dominican Republic, supplies, and knowledge transfer to national technical personnel.

The initiative builds on studies conducted through the SYSMIN II Program, under which the European Union identified the presence of rare earth elements in Pedernales bauxites between 2010 and 2011, contributing to the understanding of the Dominican Republic’s mineral potential.

The parties also underscored the strategic importance of advancing responsible and sustainable mining, based on scientific evidence that can help determine the value and potential uses of these mineral resources.