President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed the creation of a Regional Research Center for Rare Earth Metals in Astana, aiming to deepen strategic cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union. The announcement came during the “Central Asia – European Union” summit held in Samarkand. According to the president, rare earth elements represent a key area of partnership as Kazakhstan currently produces 19 out of 34 raw materials deemed critical for the EU economy, including uranium, titanium, copper, lithium, cobalt, and tungsten.
Kazakhstan, in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), is already advancing exploration projects and integrating modern, sustainable practices in the mining sector. The proposed research center would provide companies and investors with up-to-date information on available deposits, technologies, and development prospects.
During the summit, Tokayev also declared Kazakhstan’s readiness to boost exports to the European Union by $2 billion. This follows recent news of the discovery of a rare earth deposit in the Karaganda region, estimated to contain around one million tons of resources.
