The 15th anniversary of the International Mining and Geology Forum MINEX Kazakhstan has commenced in Astana, attracting over 100 leading speakers and 450 delegates from 30 countries, including Central Asia, Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Australia. The participation of global industry leaders highlights Kazakhstan’s growing significance as a key player in the global minerals market.
The forum’s central theme, “A New Era in Kazakhstan’s Mineral Resource Development: From Exploration to Processing,” addressed critical industry topics such as sustainable development, ESG principles, technological innovation, digitalization, investment, exploration, and cross-border cooperation.
During the plenary session, Nikolai Radostovets, Executive Director of the Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises (AGMP), emphasized the need for continued reforms in subsoil use legislation and taxation. He noted that the Kazakhstani government is actively working to attract both foreign and domestic companies to geological exploration, with over 3,000 licenses already issued. A second phase of reforms in subsoil use is now anticipated.
Radostovets highlighted that while the 2017 Subsoil Code initiated industry reforms—introducing a licensing system and establishing CRISCO Association—some issues remain unresolved. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has since stressed the importance of completing these reforms. Currently, the Ministry of Industry and Construction is reviewing over 60 amendments to the Subsoil Code, including proposals from AGMP.
One key discussion point was the potential division of the Subsoil Code into separate codes for hydrocarbons and solid minerals, as seen in other countries, to address differing industry needs. Radostovets also underscored the importance of royalty rates for new deposits, stating that consultants are evaluating rates to align with international tax standards and encourage higher processing levels.
Additionally, he called for public discussions on proposed amendments, noting that past legislative gaps in the Water and Land Codes had led to enforcement challenges. A working group under the Ministry will soon review amendments, with parliamentary consideration expected by September 2025.
Radostovets also addressed the need for investment in coal, despite global shifts away from coal burning, emphasizing coal chemistry development and cluster initiatives for copper and aluminum. He expressed optimism that MINEX Kazakhstan would facilitate progress in the second phase of subsoil use reforms.
