Kazakhstan requires between $10 billion and $12 billion in investment to develop its copper and aluminium processing industries to their full potential, with the country currently exporting up to 97% of its copper in raw or insufficiently processed form, the deputy minister of national economy has told the Senate.
Arman Kasenov, speaking during a government session in parliament, said the copper segment alone represents potential projects exceeding $5 to $6 billion, with more than 100 leading international companies possessing deep expertise available as potential partners. Copper ranks as the second most important segment in Kazakhstan’s metallurgy sector after gold in terms of significance and value-added potential, yet the overwhelming majority of output continues to leave the country without meaningful processing.
Among the specific opportunities Kasenov identified is the production of ultra-thin copper foil for batteries and electric vehicles, alongside other potential downstream manufacturing facilities. He said Kazakhstan has room for at least one large modern copper smelter, which could be built either by domestic companies independently or in partnership with leading international firms.
The aluminium processing gap presents a parallel challenge. Kazakhstan converts bauxite into alumina, but only one third of that alumina is then processed into primary aluminium at ERG’s Pavlodar plant, which is already running at 100% capacity. The remaining two thirds of domestically produced alumina is exported. Kasenov said the country has a clear opportunity to establish full alumina-to-aluminium conversion domestically, enabling the production of downstream metal products including wire, cable and rolled goods — an investment he estimated at more than $5 to $6 billion.
