The depletion of profitable mineral reserves and increased competition between countries for the possession of mineral resources threaten Kazakhstan, according to the Concept for the Development of the Geological Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023-2027.
The depletion of profitable mineral reserves due to large volumes of production, the intensification of competition between countries for the possession of mineral resources and the unification of countries by economic interests within the framework of the raw material partnership, are attributed to the threats to the development of the geology of Kazakhstan, follows from the adopted concept.
According to the document, the main problems of geology are recognized: a low level of reserves, in particular, for priority minerals, the volumes of extracted reserves exceed their increases from exploration, and the increases in reserves of iron, manganese, gold, zinc are obtained through revaluation and additional study of previously known objects.
As of January 1, 2021, the recovery coefficient of oil reserves is 1.5 due to the Kashagan field, without Kashagan, the reserve recharge ratio is 0.9, for gold – 0.29, copper – 0.08, polymetals – 0.21, the document specifies.
Also, the prospects for hydrocarbons of the northern and southern regions, rare and rare earth metals have been poorly studied, science has not been sufficiently integrated into the activities of the State Geological Survey, the infrastructure for storing material carriers of geoinformation and core has not been developed.
The document notes a critically low level of digitalization of information infrastructure and business processes among geologists.
Also, Kazakhstan has not completed the transition to international reporting standards on resources and reserves of solid minerals for accounting purposes in a single cadastre, including for developed deposits.
The Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan recognizes the decree “On the Concept of Development of the Geological Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030” as invalid and approves the “Concept for the Development of the Geological Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023-2027”.