Arras Minerals, a Canadian mining company, has announced plans to commence active drilling for copper and golddeposits in Kazakhstan’s Pavlodar region in the first half of 2025. This decision follows an extensive geological exploration campaign conducted in 2024, covering a 1,700-square-kilometer area near its Beskauga, Elemes, and Tay projects close to Ekibastuz.
During its exploration efforts, the company drilled 435 holes and collected 35,000 soil samples, identifying promising sites for further drilling. The first phase of drilling will target high-priority copper deposits under shallow cover, previously unexplored. Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals, expressed excitement about the progress, stating: “We anticipate commencing drill-testing of several high-priority copper targets, currently undrilled and under shallow cover, in the first half of 2025.”
The exploration focuses on two main sites: a 1,300-square-kilometer area located 56 kilometers northwest of Ekibastuz near the Bozshakol mine, owned by Kaz Minerals, and another site 90 kilometers southeast of Ekibastuz, which includes the Akkuduk and Norgubek projects. Both areas are believed to hold substantial copper and gold reserves.
Arras Minerals is positioned as a major player in Kazakhstan, holding the third-largest license package for copper and gold exploration, behind only Rio Tinto and Fortescue. In December 2023, the company secured a partnership with Teck Resources Limited (TRL), under which Teck will invest $5 million in geological exploration between 2024 and 2025. Teck Resources also holds a 10% stake in the Beskauga project.
In a September 2024 interview, Darren Klinck, President of Arras Minerals, praised Kazakhstan’s mining industry reforms, highlighting the nation’s adoption of practices from regions like Western Australia and Canada. Klinck described Kazakhstan as one of the most business-friendly mining jurisdictions, noting the country’s significant progress in attracting international investment.
With these advancements, Arras Minerals is well-positioned to contribute to and benefit from Kazakhstan’s growing mining sector, which continues to attract global attention.
