From January to July 2024, Kazakhstan’s subsoil users received 333 licenses for solid minerals, reports the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan. Most of these are exploration licenses, with only 13 issued for extraction. The total number of applications exceeded 800.
According to the Ministry, auctions held in May alone added 89 million tenge to the budget. An auction was also held for the troubled Obukhovskoye deposit, where authorities expect the new owner to continue operating the processing plant and maintain jobs. The enterprise produces rutile-zirconium concentrate.
On August 12, another 23 deposits of solid minerals will be put up for auction.
The Ministry also monitors the fulfillment of obligations: since the beginning of the year, 32 licenses and 22 contractshave been terminated due to non-compliance with conditions.
The Ministry emphasizes that a key task remains leveraging the country’s raw material potential to attract investments. To this end, amendments to the legislation are being made with the participation of the industry community.
