MINEX Forum

Tag: Kazakhstan

  • Altyntau Kokshetau Transitions to Underground Mining, Extending Mine Life Until 2047

    Altyntau Kokshetau Transitions to Underground Mining, Extending Mine Life Until 2047

    Altyntau Kokshetau, a prominent gold mining company in Kazakhstan, has announced a strategic shift to underground mining operations at its gold deposit in the Akmolinsk region, effectively extending the mine’s operational life until 2047. This transition marks a significant milestone in the company’s history, which spans over 60 years. The regional akimat reported that underground drilling and blasting works have already commenced, signalling the start of a new phase in resource extraction.

    The decision to move to underground mining is not only a technical advancement but also a vital economic strategy for the region. The company has expanded its mining territory by acquiring an additional 1,057 hectares of land, which is essential for developing the necessary underground infrastructure. This transition is expected to bolster the local economy significantly, as Altyntau Kokshetau is one of the major employers in the area, providing jobs for over 1,700 individuals. The mine contributes 17% to the region’s total industrial output and 23% to its manufacturing sector.

    The sustainability of the mine is crucial for the social stability of the Akmolinsk region. By maintaining operations at this key enterprise, the company is not only preserving jobs but also providing a long-term planning horizon for the local community. The transition to underground mining is projected to create approximately 600 new jobs and generate over 3 billion tenge in annual tax contributions to the local budget.

    In terms of financial investment, Altyntau Kokshetau has committed to investing more than $700 million into the development of the deposit. The planned hybrid approach includes underground mining of three ore zones with an annual capacity of 2 million tonnes, alongside deepening the open pit from its current depth of 540 metres to 680 metres, which will allow for an additional 6 million tonnes of production per year. This comprehensive development strategy underscores the company’s commitment to sustainable mining practices and its role in the regional economy.

  • Kazakhstan Launches Northern Katpar Tungsten Project to Boost Local Economy

    Kazakhstan Launches Northern Katpar Tungsten Project to Boost Local Economy

    Kazakhstan has officially commenced the practical implementation of the Northern Katpar tungsten project, located in the Karaganda Region, as announced by the regional akimat. This significant initiative is part of a broader strategy to develop one of the world’s largest tungsten deposits, alongside the Verkhne-Kairakty deposit. Preparatory work has been ongoing for the past two months, focusing on the establishment of production sites, access roads, and essential field infrastructure, complemented by geodetic surveys. A comprehensive feasibility study is currently in progress and is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2027.

    Deputy Akim of Karaganda Region, Shyngys Suyunbayev, highlighted the project’s importance, stating that it will not only attract foreign investment but also provide a substantial economic boost to the Shet District. The project is projected to create approximately 1,200 new jobs upon commissioning. Dominic Heaton, CEO of Cove Kaz Capital Group, emphasized that the investor’s vision extends beyond mere deposit development; it aims to establish a modern, internationally competitive tungsten mining and processing industry within Kazakhstan.

    The Northern Katpar project is set to foster domestic value addition through processing, alongside skills development and enhanced participation of Kazakh companies in the supply chain. Daniyar Idrisov, Chief Investment and Strategy Officer at Tau-Ken Samruk, noted that the partners are committed to creating a full production cycle, encompassing everything from ore extraction to metallurgical processing and the production of high-value tungsten products.

    Total investment in the development of both deposits and the necessary mining and processing infrastructure is estimated at around $1.1 billion. The project is expected to yield approximately 12,000 tons of tungsten products annually, which would account for about 15% of current global tungsten production, according to the regional akimat. The initiative not only focuses on ore extraction and beneficiation but also aims for deep processing within Kazakhstan, thereby establishing a new production chain in the critical minerals sector.

    According to the current timeline, major construction activities are projected to commence in 2028, with commissioning works slated for 2029. This ambitious project is poised to significantly enhance Kazakhstan’s position in the global tungsten market while providing economic opportunities for the local population.

  • Sinopec Partners with Turkestan Region for Major Phosphate Processing Plant

    Sinopec Partners with Turkestan Region for Major Phosphate Processing Plant

    The Akim of Turkestan Region, Nuralhan Kushev, recently met with Zhang Zhanshin, Vice President of Sinopec, to discuss the current status and future plans for a modern phosphate ore processing plant in the Sayramsky district. This significant investment project, valued at 150 billion tenge, is being implemented by the company ‘Sayak Phosphate’. The initiative aims to establish a comprehensive production complex that effectively utilises local mineral resources, including the extraction, enrichment, and deep processing of phosphate ore.

    Upon completion, the plant is expected to enrich 2 million tonnes of phosphate ore annually, producing 1.6 million tonnes of sulphuric acid, 600,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid, 600,000 tonnes of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), 600,000 tonnes of MAP (Monoammonium Phosphate), and 350,000 tonnes of synthetic ammonia. The products will cater to both domestic markets and exports to China, India, and neighbouring countries.

    Kushev emphasised the project’s importance not only for the region but also for the industrial development of the country as a whole. He stated, “The phosphate processing plant in the Sayramsky district is one of the strategically significant projects for the region and the industrial and economic development of the entire country. Once operational, it will create around 1,000 jobs, enhancing the welfare of the local population and boosting the region’s production capacity.”

    He further highlighted the need for high-quality construction that adheres to international standards, assuring that the government would provide comprehensive support throughout all stages of the project, including infrastructure development and coordination with state authorities.

    The project has been included in the Industrialisation Map, with an estimated phosphate ore reserve of approximately 1 billion tonnes and a phosphorus content of around 20-30%. An EPC contract has been signed with Sinopec Nanjing Engineering Co., Ltd. for the technological aspects of the project. Currently, specialists are conducting additional studies of the production site and ore deposits, selecting cores and ore samples, while verifying technological solutions.

    The technical and economic justification is expected to be completed by October this year, followed by the design phase, construction of engineering infrastructure, railway installation, and procurement of equipment. The plant is slated to commence operations in 2028, with projections indicating that it will contribute approximately 43.3 billion tenge in tax revenues to the budget over the next decade. Additionally, the project aims to establish a new production chain in the chemical industry with high added value, facilitating the production of mineral fertilisers and chemical products, ensuring import substitution, and increasing export potential.

    In related news, a paper processing plant is also set to be constructed in Turkestan Region with an investment of 1 billion tenge, as Chinese investors aim to create a construction hub in the area.

  • New Enrichment Complex to be Built at the Gagarinskoye Gold Deposit

    New Enrichment Complex to be Built at the Gagarinskoye Gold Deposit

    The Akimat of the Zhambyl region has announced plans to construct an enrichment complex at the Gagarinskoye gold deposit located in the Kordai district. This initiative, led by the company Shokpar-Gagarinskoye, is set to be discussed in public hearings scheduled for September 22. The project aims to establish a processing plant with a capacity of up to 1 million tonnes of ore per year, focusing on the production of lead and zinc concentrates, as well as doré alloy from the ore processing outputs.

    Construction of the enrichment complex is slated for 2026-2027, with commissioning activities expected to commence next year. The facility will be situated 22 km northwest of the village of Alga, near the Almaty-Taraz highway, with the nearest settlement, Sogandy, located over 3 km to the northwest. Additionally, the Almaty railway runs north of the site, with the closest railway station, Otar, approximately 45 km away via dirt roads.

    Last year, reports indicated that the annual capacity of the Shokpar-Gagarinskoye mining and metallurgical complex was projected at 500,000 tonnes, with an estimated cost of 47 billion tenge. Local authorities assisted the investor in securing land, and a public-private partnership was proposed for the construction of an electricity transmission line.

    Recently, the Ministry of Industry announced that the scientific and production association Kazmekhanobr had developed an effective technology for the comprehensive processing of polymetallic ores from the Gagarinskoye deposit, which underpins the project’s construction plans. The new combined gravity-flotation technology aims to extract free gold and silver initially, followed by selective flotation of lead and zinc, and subsequent hydrometallurgical processing of the gold-silver-bearing product.

    According to financial reports for 2025, Shokpar-Gagarinskoye holds two licenses for gold mining at the Shokpar and Gagarinskoye deposits in the Zhambyl region until 2038, having previously held exploration contracts for these mineral sites. Between 2020 and 2021, the company drilled 147 geological exploration wells, amounting to 22,223.5 linear meters of core drilling. Based on updated geological data, a mineral resource assessment was conducted in 2022 in accordance with the JORC Code (2012), including reserves estimation for both open-pit and underground mining methods.

    In terms of environmental considerations, the project documentation includes a material balance for ore processing, indicating a doré alloy output of 1.483 tonnes, 7,100 tonnes of lead concentrate, and 9,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate. Historical data from 2019 indicated that the Gagarinskoye deposit had approved reserves of 2,257.4 thousand tonnes of ore and 10.1 tonnes of gold, with an average gold content of 4.48 grams per tonne.

    The Shokpar deposit was similarly assessed with reserves of 1,554.1 thousand tonnes of ore and 11 tonnes of gold, averaging 7.05 grams per tonne. Plans for the Shokpar deposit included open-pit mining until 2028, transitioning to underground mining by 2035. The Gagarinskoye deposit’s operational plans were revised in 2022, targeting an annual extraction of 500,000 tonnes of ore via open-pit methods until 2026, followed by a shift to underground mining.

    In 2021, Shokpar-Gagarinskoye was sold for 4.2 billion tenge to Sunlight Investments, whose current owners are Ualikhan Atageldiev and Igor Vetiul, with Diyar Kanashov appointed as the director. Recent financial reports detail loans received by the company, indicating ongoing financial activity as it prepares for the upcoming construction and operational phases.

  • Kazatomprom Signals End of ‘Cheap’ Uranium Era Amid Rising Demand

    Kazatomprom Signals End of ‘Cheap’ Uranium Era Amid Rising Demand

    Kazatomprom’s CEO, Meirzhan Yusupov, announced during a financial results conference that the era of ‘cheap’ uranium is coming to an end, as global demand for nuclear energy accelerates. This shift is backed by a commitment from 38 countries, accounting for over 70% of the world’s GDP, to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. Yusupov noted that the demand surge is occurring within a disciplined commercial environment, with long-term uranium price indicators remaining stable and reaching an 18-year high. This creates a solid foundation for future long-term contracts, as market dynamics shift towards producers with confirmed large uranium reserves.

    Kazatomprom’s consolidated revenue for the first half of the year rose by 9% year-on-year to nearly 718 billion tenge (approximately $1.57 billion), reflecting financial discipline and a favourable uranium market. However, the industry faces rising production costs, and Yusupov acknowledged that the days of ‘cheap’ uranium are over. The fundamental need for reliable, low-carbon energy remains strong, and global energy companies are aware of this shift, ensuring robust long-term demand for uranium.

    In addition to its financial results, Kazatomprom announced agreements with China’s State Nuclear Uranium Resource Development Company Limited (SNURDC) for spot contracts for natural uranium concentrates, and with Uranium One Group JSC for the sale of uranium concentrates to the Siberian Chemical Combine in Russia. The details of these contracts are confidential but align with current market conditions.

    Recent amendments to Kazakhstan’s Subsoil Code, effective from September, will impact uranium mining licenses, requiring a minimum participation share for Kazatomprom in any organization receiving such licenses. Another amendment shifts the legal framework for uranium exploration from a licensing regime to a contractual one, allowing for a maximum combined term of 11 years for exploration agreements.

    Kazatomprom also reported a new processing plant with a capacity of 500 tonnes per year at the Zhalpak deposit, with plans to expand to 900 tonnes by 2027. However, the construction of a significant sulphuric acid plant is facing delays due to the discovery of potential paleontological finds at the site. Construction has been paused pending regulatory approval for excavation and analysis of the finds.

    The sulphuric acid plant is crucial for Kazatomprom’s uranium extraction operations, and uncertainties regarding its supply have impacted production plans. The total investment in the sulphuric acid plant project is estimated at approximately 113 billion tenge ($2.6 million). The expected commissioning date for the plant has been pushed back to between Q3 2027 and Q1 2028, a delay of 6-12 months, although Kazatomprom anticipates that this will not significantly affect its uranium production operations.

  • Kazakhstan’s Strategic Focus on Critical Materials Amid Global Competition

    Kazakhstan’s Strategic Focus on Critical Materials Amid Global Competition

    Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a key player in the global competition for critical materials, particularly rare earth metals, which are essential for high-tech industries. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the country’s significant resource and production potential during a recent Security Council meeting, as reported by Exclusive.kz. He emphasized that Kazakhstan must leverage its advantages in Central Asia to benefit the nation amidst rising global competition for access to these vital resources.

    Tokayev noted that the current global landscape presents unique opportunities for countries with substantial reserves of critical materials. He underscored the strategic importance of these resources for the development of high-tech sectors and acknowledged the intensifying competition among nations for access to them.

    In light of this, Kazakhstan is urged not only to focus on raw material extraction but also to enhance its competencies in processing and developing high-value production chains. The meeting included presentations from government members regarding the current state of the industry, prospects for resource base development, and existing barriers to progress.

    Following the discussions, the government and relevant state bodies were tasked with creating a comprehensive vision for the industry’s development. This includes improving regulations, boosting geological exploration and processing, integrating technogenic mineral formations into the economic turnover, and developing laboratory and human resources. Additionally, efforts will be made to eliminate administrative barriers that hinder progress in this critical sector.

  • Central Asia’s Nuclear Ambitions: Kazakhstan’s Strategic Role in the Uranium Market

    Central Asia’s Nuclear Ambitions: Kazakhstan’s Strategic Role in the Uranium Market

    Central Asia is emerging as a pivotal player in the global nuclear energy landscape, with Kazakhstan at the forefront due to its substantial uranium reserves. Expert Iqbal Guliyev from MGIMO highlights the region’s pragmatic approach to nuclear energy, particularly in its interactions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The region’s nuclear projects are attracting international attention, as evidenced by frequent visits from IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who engages with regional leaders to discuss long-term cooperation and strategic roadmaps.

    The geopolitical context, marked by crises and sanctions, has disrupted traditional supply chains, making reliable nuclear fuel supply a critical concern for the United States and the European Union. For Central Asian countries, which are eager to move beyond their roles as mere raw material suppliers, this presents an opportunity to become full-fledged technological partners in nuclear energy. Kazakhstan, a global leader in uranium production, supplying about 40% of the world’s needs, is looking to not only export uranium but also participate in the entire nuclear fuel cycle.

    Guliyev emphasizes that while Kazakhstan’s potential as a full-cycle nuclear player is significant, the country has yet to establish this capability fully. He notes that while Kazakhstan has a robust uranium base and can develop processing and production infrastructure, the more complex stages of conversion and enrichment require international cooperation rather than complete technological autonomy. The ongoing sanctions and logistical challenges indeed compel market participants to diversify uranium supply routes, but Guliyev warns against conflating geopolitical assumptions with verified facts.

    The close collaboration with the IAEA serves as a means for Central Asian states to safeguard their national interests, with nuclear power plants (NPPs) seen as vital for economic survival amid acute electricity shortages. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are central to this competition, with various international corporations, including Russia’s Rosatom and China’s CNNC, proposing NPP projects in the region.

    Guliyev argues that the presence of the IAEA is not about pushing narrow geopolitical interests but rather about ensuring safety and compliance with international norms. The agency’s role is to provide oversight and guarantees rather than to dictate commercial partnerships. For Kazakhstan, this means international scrutiny and support for its nuclear projects, including those involving Rosatom, without political interference in the selection of technology partners.

    Beyond geopolitics, Grossi’s visits also have humanitarian implications, fostering cooperation in nuclear medicine and food security. Initiatives like the ‘Rays of Hope’ project aim to combat cancer, while agreements on using radiation technologies in agriculture are crucial for a region still haunted by the legacy of nuclear testing. These developments are essential for building public trust in nuclear technologies, especially in Kazakhstan, where historical memories of the Semipalatinsk test site linger.

    In conclusion, Central Asia is strategically leveraging its uranium resources, establishing itself as a key energy hub in Eurasia while fostering strong partnerships with the IAEA. This relationship not only enhances the predictability of the uranium market but also allows Central Asian nations, particularly Kazakhstan, to navigate the interests of major powers like Russia, China, and the USA while maintaining control over their energy independence. The IAEA’s involvement does not contradict Kazakhstan’s collaborations with Russia but rather reinforces trust in projects involving Russian technology, enabling Kazakhstan to develop its nuclear energy capabilities within a framework of international legitimacy.

  • Barys Resources Advances Gold Exploration in Kazakhstan with New Soil Samples

    Barys Resources Advances Gold Exploration in Kazakhstan with New Soil Samples

    Barys Resources (ASX:BRY) has initiated a significant step in its gold exploration efforts by sending 825 soil samples from its wholly owned Dalnee Gold Project and Karakul Gold Project in Kazakhstan for laboratory analysis. The samples, collected over an area of 14.6 square kilometres in the Balkhash region, are part of a comprehensive program aimed at generating targets for future drilling operations.

    Field crews employed a systematic approach to sample collection, gathering minus-80-mesh B-horizon samples at 100-metre intervals along north-south lines spaced 200 metres apart. This batch of samples, which includes quality assurance and quality control measures, has been dispatched to the ALS Laboratory in Karaganda for thorough gold and multi-element analysis. Barys anticipates that the assay results could take up to six weeks, as laboratories are currently managing increased workloads during Kazakhstan’s peak exploration season.

    The sampling campaign focused on seven distinct areas where Barys geologists have mapped alteration and mineralisation that overlap with anomalies previously identified through ASTER and Sentinel-2 satellite data. The observed alteration in these areas resembles the upper levels of porphyry copper systems, suggesting the potential presence of trace elements associated with epithermal gold mineralisation. The forthcoming assay results will be crucial in determining whether these areas exhibit significant geochemical anomalism.

    Managing Director Paul Ingram expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress, highlighting the collaboration with Aurora Minerals Group, a local geological services company. Ingram noted, “Barys has used the services of a Kazakhstan geological services company Aurora Minerals Group, whose professional work has been excellent. Barys geologists have just returned from visiting the site to monitor the work and will return to site to assist with additional sampling before week’s end.”

    This soil sampling initiative is part of a broader exploration program that includes ground magnetic surveys, geological mapping, rock chip sampling, and further soil collection. Barys plans to integrate the geochemical results with its geological and geophysical datasets to refine areas for potential drill testing.

    In addition to its two gold exploration licences in Kazakhstan’s North Balkhash region, Barys Resources also holds the wholly owned Agadez Uranium Project in Niger and minority interests in copper-silver projects within Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt. This diversified portfolio underscores Barys’ commitment to exploring and developing valuable mineral resources across various regions.

  • Revival of the Lomonosov Iron Ore Deposit in Kazakhstan: New Mining Plans Unveiled

    Revival of the Lomonosov Iron Ore Deposit in Kazakhstan: New Mining Plans Unveiled

    The Lomonosov iron ore deposit in Kazakhstan’s Kostanay region, initially discovered in 1949, is set to undergo a significant revival after years of inactivity. According to financial reports from Lomonosov LLP for the year 2025, the company has announced plans to commence industrial mining operations. A supplementary agreement to the subsoil use contract is soon to be finalised, which will include a working programme extending until the end of 2046, the construction of a processing plant, and commitments to supply concentrate to Kazakh enterprises.

    This project, which received approval from the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development’s working group in May 2026, is centred around a processing facility with a capacity of 16 million tonnes of ore per year. Preparatory work for the site is expected to take place by the end of 2026, with stripping operations scheduled between 2026 and 2028. The extraction phase is slated to begin in 2029, according to the development schedule.

    As of the end of 2015, the state commission approved the deposit’s reserves at 177 million tonnes. However, a 2014 report by Mining Associates estimated that the measured and inferred resources are significantly higher, at 507.8 million tonnes. The mining plan outlines that a total of 275.3 million tonnes of ore will be extracted over the project’s lifespan, yielding 73.5 million tonnes of concentrate with a 67% iron content. The project’s capacity is expected to increase gradually, peaking at 22 million tonnes of ore per year during the final stages of operation.

    Additionally, the Lomonosov ores contain vanadium, enhancing the project’s strategic value. The financial projections are based on a concentrate price of $100 per tonne, indicating a potentially lucrative venture for stakeholders involved in this revitalisation effort.

  • Underground Mining Planned for Belogorsk Rare Metal Deposit in East Kazakhstan

    Underground Mining Planned for Belogorsk Rare Metal Deposit in East Kazakhstan

    The Belogorsk rare metal deposit, located in the Ulansky district of East Kazakhstan, is set to be mined underground over a ten-year period. According to announcements regarding the project’s hearings, the planned production capacity of the facility is 350,000 tonnes of ore per year. Over the course of the ten-year license period, it is anticipated that approximately 3.312 million tonnes of ore will be extracted.

    Operations are scheduled to commence in 2026, with the underground mine expected to reach its design capacity by the third year of operation. This production level will be maintained for eight years, within an overall operational lifespan of 11 years. The area designated for underground mining covers 2 square kilometres.

    The nearest settlement to the mine is the eponymous village, located just 50 metres from the deposit. Other nearby settlements include Kalaitapkan, 2.7 km away, Tomenge Taiynty at 3.6 km, Asu-Bulak at 27 km, and Ognyevka at 45 km. The regional centre, Ust-Kamenogorsk, is situated 112 km from the site.

    Exploration of the Belogorsk deposit dates back to the 1930s, with various assessments and approvals of reserves occurring over the decades, the last of which was in 1985. To evaluate the deposit’s potential, exploratory works were conducted on the flanks and deep horizons of the site by the Ust-Kamenogorsk geological exploration expedition during 1985-86, primarily involving core drilling. The project concluded that resources could be significantly increased through further exploration of the flanks and deeper horizons.

    Historical data from 1985 indicates that the deposit contains reserves of beryllium, tin, tantalum, and niobium. Besides tin, the other three metals can be processed at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant (UMP) of Kazatomprom in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Reserves of beryllium in category C1 were estimated at 1,358 tonnes from 2.8 million tonnes of ore, with tantalum at 243 tonnes, niobium at 224 tonnes, and tin at 604 tonnes from 2.7 million tonnes of ore. In category C2, reserves of these metals were calculated at 341 tonnes for beryllium, 42 tonnes for tantalum, 57 tonnes for niobium, and 157 tonnes for tin from 528,000 tonnes of ore. Additionally, inferred reserves were projected at 6.2 million tonnes, including 2,816 tonnes of beryllium, 299 tonnes of tantalum, and 502 tonnes of tin.

    In 2023, media reports cited industry experts questioning the existence of large reserves at the Belogorsk deposit, noting that it had been mined underground until 1993. The mining rights for the Belogorsk deposit were awarded to Sinoinvest Group Ltd following a Ministry of Industry auction in 2025. The hearings were initiated by Asia United Resources Group Corporation Ltd, led by Du Cunfeng, who is also a founder of Sinoinvest Group, alongside Teliewuhabuli Akemubayi, according to data from adata.kz. Notably, Akemubayi has been identified as a university employee in Xinjiang. Earlier in June, Qazba.kz reported on Sinoinvest Group’s iron ore mining project in the Karaganda region, associated with the same ownership.