Chinese mining giant Zijin Gold International, a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group, expects gold reserves at Kazakhstan’s Raigorodok deposit to exceed 200 tonnes, citing advanced recovery technology and favorable market conditions. The statement follows the company’s $1.008 billion acquisition of RG Gold, which owns the mining rights to Raigorodok — one of the largest active gold deposits in Kazakhstan’s Akmola region.
The deal was finalized in mid-October, according to reports by inbusiness.kz. Initially valued at $1.2 billion, the final amount was adjusted due to existing liabilities. Zijin Mining, which raised $3.9 billion through a Hong Kong IPO in September, confirmed plans to invest an additional $500 million to build a new processing plant capable of treating 6–8 million tonnes of ore annually. The project is expected to create over 1,000 new jobs.
Speaking at Kazakhstan Day, held during the China Mining 2025 exhibition in Tianjin, Liao Jiansheng, head of Zijin Eurasia Mining, said the company intends to make Raigorodok a model for green and high-tech gold mining. He emphasized that Zijin’s advanced extraction methods could increase gold recovery to more than 90%, significantly expanding proven resources.
“The current plant and management are good, and local employees are highly skilled,” Liao said. “We’ll introduce our technologies carefully, ensuring a smooth transition. For us, this project is a shared success — both for Kazakhstan and Zijin.”
Zijin plans to maintain compliance with Kazakh labor and investment laws, limiting the number of foreign specialists to the legal quota and prioritizing local employment. During the plant’s reconstruction phase, temporary Chinese technical experts will assist in modernization.
The company holds a mining license valid until 2035, with the potential for renewal. The Raigorodok mine will continue to operate as an open-pit site, with Zijin exploring opportunities to expand its resource base through additional exploration and acquisitions in the Akmola region.
Zijin also expressed interest in investing further in geological exploration in Kazakhstan, supported by Kazakh Invest and the Chinese Embassy, signaling its long-term commitment to the country’s mining sector.
Founded in 1993, Zijin Mining Group is the world’s sixth-largest metal producer and China’s largest gold miner. As of 2024, the company controlled 4,000 tonnes of gold, 110 million tonnes of copper, 13 million tonnes of zinc and lead, and 17.9 million tonnes of lithium globally. In the first half of 2025, Zijin reported $23.4 billion in revenue and $3 billion in net profit, with operations in 17 countries and a workforce of 55,000.
