Vietnam cooperates with India to research and process rare earths

Institute of Rare Earth Radiation Technology (ITRRE) – a unit under the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (Ministry of Science and Technology) and IREL Company (India) on May 6 signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of rare earths. The event took place within the framework of the working visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to India.

The agreement is expected to establish a common cooperation framework to exchange information, share experiences, evaluate technological potential and jointly consider the possibility of reaching an agreement to conduct a pre-feasibility study on rare earth processing and refining in Vietnam.

IREL is an enterprise under the Government of India, with extensive experience in the field of rare radioactive minerals. According to the agreement, this unit will act as a focal point to seek necessary support measures from India for cooperation activities, and share experiences and practices in operating rare earth mining and processing plants.

The two sides also coordinated to analyze ore samples at Indian laboratories, build and simulate technology diagrams based on analytical data, and carry out experimental research at laboratory and semi-industrial scale (pilot), to verify the effectiveness of the technology. In addition, this company will support the construction of financial models and perform technical and economic analyzes to serve feasibility study reports.

On the Vietnamese side, the Institute of Rare Earth Technology provides overview information on the research and development potential and current status of rare earth processing technology in the country. This unit will also act as a bridge to support the introduction and connection of Indian partners with state management agencies, research institutes and domestic mineral enterprises. In addition to sending experts to join the joint research team, ITRRE will create conditions for experimental activities to access the Institute’s existing laboratory system and equipment.

Vietnam has large rare earth reserves (22 million tons – according to the US Geological Survey), ranking second in the world after China (44 million tons). But up to now, Vietnam does not have a factory to process rare earth ores into products that meet export standards. At a conference in 2024, experts said that the reason comes from the fact that businesses granted mines have not yet mastered the technology to process products that meet requirements such as synthetic rare earths with a minimum content of 95%, and at the same time do not have the technology to separate rare earth products.

Cooperation with an experienced partner like IREL is expected to help Vietnamese scientists access advanced technological processes, instead of stopping at crude exploitation and export. The memorandum of understanding is valid for 5 years.

On the same day, Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan and Indian Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw awarded a Memorandum of Understanding on digital technology cooperation. The two sides agreed to promote cooperation in key areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor technology, digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem development.

According to the cooperation, the Indian side will share experiences in implementing India Stack – a national digital identity and payment platform that is considered an important driving force to help the country strongly promote digital economy and digital governance in recent times.