MINEX Forum

Tag: Investments

  • Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister Visits UK for Forum on Ore Processing and Circular Economy

    Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister Visits UK for Forum on Ore Processing and Circular Economy

    Iran Sharhan, Vice Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, undertook a working visit to the United Kingdom to participate in the “Mineral Processing and Circular Economy” business forum from March 11 to 15, 2024. The primary purpose of the trip was to explore British opportunities in critical raw materials.

    During the forum, Kazakhstan and the UK signed a Roadmap for Strategic Partnership in Critical Minerals, marking a new chapter in their relationship in sustainable mineral resources.

    In a meeting with the UK’s Minister of Industry and Economic Security, Nusrat Ghani, Iran Sharhan emphasized Kazakhstan’s principles of exchanging raw materials for technology and integrating into the global value chain. He also invited British companies to participate in investment projects in Kazakhstan.

    Minister Nusrat Ghani praised the work of both countries in forming a long-term partnership and expressed confidence in the swift implementation of the signed Roadmap, considering it a significant event in the development of cooperation between London and Astana in the field of critical minerals.

    The event also included meetings between entrepreneurs from both countries to discuss the development of cooperation in the field of critical raw materials and to present specific projects.

    The visit also included familiarization trips to the production sites of British companies, where their production capacities and technologies were presented.

    All these activities were organized with the assistance of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

  • New lithium deposit discovered in Eastern Kazakhstan: Foreign investors show interest in development

    New lithium deposit discovered in Eastern Kazakhstan: Foreign investors show interest in development

    In 2023, experts from the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) announced their discovery of a new lithium deposit in Kazakhstan. The information about the unnamed deposit was published by the “Kursiv” newspaper, citing the Korea Times.

    The discovery of the deposit occurred as a result of geological studies on an area of 1.6 km² in Eastern Kazakhstan. Foreign investors have already shown interest in developing this deposit.

    KIGAM experts estimated the potential resources of the new deposit at $15.7 billion, although the exact amount of lithium found in the ground has not been disclosed. According to estimates, the deposit contains high concentrations of lithium up to 5.3%, making it potentially profitable.

    According to previous data, German companies have actively invested in lithium mining in Kazakhstan. Three major enterprises, including GP Gunter Papenburg AG, Knauf Gruppe, and Roxtec, have formed a consortium to develop production of this strategically important metal in the republic.

  • Uzbekistan expects to attract $7.2 billion in foreign investment

    Uzbekistan expects to attract $7.2 billion in foreign investment

    In the first quarter of 2024, Uzbekistan plans to utilize foreign investments worth $7.2 billion. The government of the republic adopted a resolution to this effect on February 14. Out of this amount, approximately $1.7 billion may be attracted by the Ministry of Energy, AGMK — $331 million, and Uzbekneftegaz JSC — $254.1 million. Among the regions, Tashkent leads with $428 million, followed by Namangan and Fergana regions with $329.4 million and $327 million respectively. According to the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, in 2023, foreign investors invested $7.2 billion in the economy of our country. Foreign investments in the republic doubled in one year. Earlier, “Kursiv” reported that last year, Uzbekistan attracted international loans worth $2.8 billion.

  • Orano is investing up to $500 million in uranium mining in Uzbekistan

    Orano is investing up to $500 million in uranium mining in Uzbekistan

    French company Orano has expressed its intention to invest up to $500 million in uranium mining and processing in Uzbekistan, as revealed by the Minister of Mining Industry and Geology, Bobir Islamov. He mentioned the existence of a strategic partnership agreement between Uzbekistan and Orano. Currently, the French company is conducting geological exploration, and by the end of this year, a preliminary technical and economic justification for the project will be prepared.

    Islamov explained that the strategic agreement includes the exploration of two additional sites in the Tamdyn district of the Navoi region. The final decision regarding these sites will depend on the results of the technical and economic analysis. However, Islamov expressed optimism about the progress of the project.

    The minister emphasized that current uranium production volumes have already secured markets. As the production of nuclear fuel increases, Uzbekistan will consider expanding its exports based on market conditions.

    “When it comes to uranium, our prices are tied to global prices. If the price rises, our delivery costs increase as well,” stated the minister.

    Islamov highlighted the growth in uranium exports to various destinations this year, underscoring the importance of diversifying supply sources. In 2022, Uzbekistan increased uranium exports to the European Union by 2.71 times, reaching 441 tons.

    During a visit to Samarkand, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Orano, in collaboration with the local joint venture Nurlikum Mining, had initiated a pilot project for uranium mining. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his support for the expansion of geological exploration for uranium deposits with Orano.

    Prior to Macron’s visit, Bloomberg reported that his objective in visiting Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan was to discuss the expansion of uranium supplies, as France considers Central Asia as an alternative to Russian nuclear fuel.

    In November 2022, the State Committee of Geology, Navoi Mining, and Orano signed a tripartite agreement to expand uranium mining and processing. Uzbekistan aims to follow the French model in the “nuclear fuel value chain.” Orano has stated its readiness to invest “several hundred million euros.”

  • Five Successful Mining Enterprises of Tajikistan

    Five Successful Mining Enterprises of Tajikistan

    Over the past 5 years, about 409 million somoni or $ 82.8 million of investments have been attracted to the mining industry: to whom do they go?

    The mining industry of Tajikistan, which in the Soviet years served as a raw material base for the processing industry of other regions, is today focused on meeting the needs of its own economy.

    The share of mining in the total production of the country is 26%.

    Zarafshon

    1/1

    Zarafshon LLC is owned by the Government of Tajikistan in conjunction with the “Zijin” Mining Company. Tajikistan has a share of 30%, China – 70%. One of the largest enterprises of the country’s gold mining industry, which has an almost completed technological cycle: mining, processing and metallurgy – refining gold to produce finished gold bars.

    Pakrut

    1/1

    The new gold mining company in Tajikistan, Pakrut LLC (Vahdat), which is 100% owned by a Chinese company in China Nonferrous Gold Limited, began the extraction of gold from concentrate in 2016.

    Aprelevka

    1/1

    A joint Tajik-Canadian enterprise Aprelevka is located in the north of Tajikistan in the village of Kansai, Sughd region.

    Until 1985, lead-zinc ore was mined here, then the Kairakkum gold mine was organized on the basis of gold deposits, and in 1995, the Aprelevka joint venture was established.

    Adrasman

    1/1

    It was created in 1970 on the basis of the Karamazar mine, later, in 1994 it was renamed the Adrasman mining and processing complex.

    The plant specializes in the mining and processing of silver lead ores to produce lead concentrate.

    Anzob

    1/1

    Anzob Mining Camp (now a joint Tajik-American limited liability company) is located in the Sughd region on the northern slope of the Gissar Range of Central Tajikistan. It specializes in underground mining and processing of ores with the release of mercury-antimony concentrate.

    The design capacity of the enterprise is 700 thousand tons of ore per year with the production of more than 30 thousand tons of mercury-antimony concentrate. Actual ore mining and processing capacity averages 350 thousand tons per year.

    Подробнее: https://asiaplustj.info/ru/node/271604