Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Construction has highlighted a productive year in geological exploration, adding 17 deposits of solid minerals and six hydrocarbon fields to the national resource balance. Among the key findings are substantial reserves of gold (107.5 tons), silver (1,900 tons), copper (4.9 million tons), and iron ore (128 million tons). The year also saw reserves of tungsten, molybdenum, manganese, zinc, and lead significantly boosted, while chromium resources were documented at 464.1 thousand tons.
Six newly identified hydrocarbon fields brought an estimated 1,776.5 million cubic meters of natural gas to the national inventory. However, the ministry did not specify the time frame for these discoveries. Looking ahead, over 20 billion tenge will be allocated for geological research between 2024 and 2026, with the goal of increasing Kazakhstan’s explored area from 1.5 million to 2.2 million square kilometers.
Efforts are underway to study 60 promising locations for noble, ferrous, and non-ferrous metals, with a special focus on rare and rare-earth elements. Among these, the Kuyrektykol deposit stands out, with preliminary estimates indicating 800,000 tons of reserves. These developments underscore the country’s commitment to bolstering its mining sector and ensuring a robust resource base for future economic growth.
