Türkiye's new Medium-Term Program for 2027-2029 makes critical minerals a core part of its economic strategy, with plans to expand domestic exploration, cut import dependence, and push more mineral processing at home. The program includes a 139% increase in MTA exploration investments and R&D funding for coal gasification, carbon capture and storage, and advanced carbon products. For carbon markets and clean energy watchers, the key signal is that Türkiye is treating rare earths and critical minerals as national security inputs, not just commodities. The mining sector wants a national critical minerals strategy and a dedicated Critical Minerals Presidency to coordinate policy. The open question is whether the new institutional setup can move from raw ore exports to higher value added products while keeping ESG criteria in the approval process.
