MINEX Forum

Tag: Raw Materials

  • Kazakhstan to Import Zinc Ore from Afghanistan Under New Supply Agreement

    Kazakhstan to Import Zinc Ore from Afghanistan Under New Supply Agreement

    Kazakhstan has signed a significant trade agreement to import zinc ore from Afghanistan, marking an expansion of the country’s raw material sourcing strategy. The agreement was formalised during the opening of Kazakhstan’s Trade House in Kabul, where Shalkiya Zinc LTD, a subsidiary of the National Mining Company Tau-Ken Samruk, entered into a contract with Afghan German Bakhtar Company for the supply of zinc ore.

    Under the terms of the contract, Shalkiya Zinc LTD will purchase up to 30,000 tonnes of zinc ore annually, with a total contract value of $18.88 million. The ore will be shipped to Kazakhstan under DAP (Delivered at Place) conditions, meaning Afghan German Bakhtar Company will assume all transportation costs and associated risks, whilst Shalkiya Zinc LTD will handle customs duties and unloading operations. This arrangement provides a clear division of responsibilities and ensures efficient logistics for the supply chain.

    The initiative builds on previous exploratory work conducted by Tau-Ken Samruk, which collected samples from the Pami-Kakrak deposit in Bamian Province during autumn 2025. Laboratory analysis conducted by Kazzinc confirmed that the imported mineral raw material can be integrated into the existing technological processes of Kazakhstan’s mining and processing plants. This validation demonstrates the compatibility of Afghan ore with Kazakhstan’s current production infrastructure, making the partnership commercially viable.

    The new supply channel arrives at a critical time for Kazakhstan’s zinc sector. According to the Bureau of National Statistics, zinc production declined during the first five months of 2026, with copper-zinc ore output falling 18.8 per cent year-on-year to 2.2 million tonnes, and refined zinc production dropping 12.9 per cent to 93,000 tonnes. The Afghan ore imports are expected to help stabilise and support these production figures. Additionally, other Kazakhstani companies, including ERG, are exploring similar opportunities for mineral resource development in Afghanistan, with ERG considering chrome mining ventures potentially structured as joint enterprises.

  • Euromines Urges Stronger Raw Materials Integration in EU Industrial Accelerator Act

    Euromines Urges Stronger Raw Materials Integration in EU Industrial Accelerator Act

    The European Union’s proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) represents a significant step toward building a more proactive and coordinated industrial policy aimed at strengthening competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy across key manufacturing sectors. However, industry representatives warn that the legislation must more clearly integrate the upstream raw materials sector to ensure the effectiveness of Europe’s strategic supply chains.

    The IAA seeks to stimulate investment and accelerate the development of strategic industries by promoting the production of key technologies and introducing measures such as simplified permitting, “Made-in-EU” criteria and requirements related to low-carbon content. These provisions are intended to create stronger regulatory certainty and targeted incentives capable of mobilising private capital and supporting the EU’s green and digital transitions.

    According to industry association Euromines, these policy tools reflect a growing recognition within the EU that achieving climate and technological goals requires a comprehensive industrial strategy capable of aligning supply and demand across critical value chains.

    However, the organisation argues that the current framework does not sufficiently address the role of domestic raw materials production. Without stronger links between manufacturing policies and upstream resource extraction, increased demand for strategic goods could fail to translate into greater supply security within the European Union.

    Euromines also notes that the proposed reliance on non-preferential rules of origin primarily reinforces final manufacturing stages rather than recognising the strategic importance of raw materials produced within the EU. While cooperation with trusted international partners remains important, extending recognition of EU origin to certain Free Trade Agreement partners may do little to strengthen Europe’s internal resource base.

    The organisation has called for greater integration of raw materials policy into the Industrial Accelerator Act, arguing that minerals and metals form the foundation of all strategic industrial value chains.

    Euromines said it is prepared to work with EU lawmakers to address these gaps, emphasising that fully incorporating domestic raw materials production into the IAA will be essential for building resilient supply chains and achieving the bloc’s long-term industrial, strategic and climate objectives.

  • EU Urged to Create €10 Billion Fund for Critical Raw Materials

    EU Urged to Create €10 Billion Fund for Critical Raw Materials

    The European Union must establish funds exceeding €10 billion ($11.4 billion) to drive investment in the exploration, mining, and recycling of critical raw materials, according to Bernd Schaefer, CEO of EIT RawMaterials, an EU-funded agency for key minerals.

    The EU has set ambitious 2030 targets for 34 critical minerals, including lithium and copper, which are vital for its green transition. These goals aim for 10% of annual demand to be met through domestic mining, 25% through recycling, and 40% through local processing. Furthermore, no single third country should supply more than 65% of any given mineral—a threshold the EU currently surpasses with China for many materials.

    To reach these targets, Schaefer emphasized the necessity of dedicating part of the bloc’s next seven-year budget from 2028 towards mining and recycling initiatives. “It should probably start with at least a billion or 2 billion euros and have the potential to grow considerably,” Schaefer told Reuters.

    Additionally, Schaefer called for the creation of a €10 billion exploration fund to identify minerals within the EU, which, when combined with private investments, could reach around €100 billion. He stressed the importance of evaluating future consumption and supply for each mineral while converting alliances with international partners into tangible volumes amid rising geopolitical tensions.

    “The Americans are very much hands-on in getting things down the road,” Schaefer said, urging Europe to take decisive action.

    Schaefer also pointed out that Europe’s increased defense spending, a factor not considered when setting its raw material targets, would further heighten demand for minerals such as vanadium, titanium, molybdenum, and chromium. He noted that while the required volumes are not massive, the urgency and sensitivity surrounding their sourcing have intensified, surpassing even that for energy and mobility raw materials.

  • Kazakhstan Extends Export Bans to Boost Domestic Processing of Raw Materials

    Kazakhstan Extends Export Bans to Boost Domestic Processing of Raw Materials

    Kazakhstan’s Interagency Commission on Foreign Trade Policy and Participation in International Economic Organizations has continued to drive the domestic processing of raw materials by extending export bans. The government outlined the results of a recent meeting on the official website of the Prime Minister of the Republic.

    The government has decided to extend the ban on the transportation of liquefied gas, a measure initially implemented to prevent fuel shortages on the domestic market.

    Additionally, a six-month export ban has been imposed on steel billets and semi-finished products. This measure is not new but has already yielded positive results. According to the Interagency Commission, domestic metallurgical plants have shifted their focus to deeper processing of raw materials and have increased rebar exports by 30,000 tons.

    The authorities also plan to support the metallurgy sector with anti-dumping duties on seamless pipes from China and galvanized steel from Ukrainian producers.

    Another import restriction will apply to stone products and drywall from countries outside the Eurasian Economic Union, with local companies’ capacities deemed sufficient to meet domestic demand.

  • Euromines Event Highlights Europe’s Urgent Raw Material and Defense Challenges

    Euromines Event Highlights Europe’s Urgent Raw Material and Defense Challenges

    On April 9, 2025, Euromines hosted a high-level conference in Brussels titled “Geopolitics at Play: The War Below for Europe’s Defense”, bringing together leading policymakers and industry experts to tackle the continent’s growing vulnerabilities in defense, energy security, and raw material supply chains.

    Amid escalating geopolitical tensions and fragile global supply networks, the event addressed how Europe can secure its industrial and strategic autonomy in an increasingly volatile world.

    Six Key Takeaways from the Event:

    1. Securing Critical Raw Materials for Defense
      The EU’s dependence on imports for rare earths, lithium, and titanium poses a serious threat to defense readiness. The Critical Raw Materials Act is a step towards ensuring the EU can access these materials independently and sustainably.

    2. Europe’s Defense Strategy: Readiness 2030
      As part of broader defense initiatives like “Readiness 2030” and “Rearm Europe”, the EU is addressing capability gaps while reinforcing material support to Ukraine and ensuring a sustainable supply of key defense-related inputs.

    3. Strategic Stockpiling and Policy Gaps
      The need for raw material stockpiling during crises was emphasized. However, funding mechanisms and legal frameworks to implement this effectively remain unclear, signaling a critical policy gap.

    4. Energy Security Amid Geopolitical Risk
      With the continued energy standoff involving Russia, Europe must diversify its supply chains and reduce dependence on China and other dominant suppliers by deepening international cooperation.

    5. Global Partnerships and Supply Chain Resilience
      Collaborations with resource-rich nations, including South Africa, and multilateral efforts like the Mineral Security Partnership are seen as pivotal for securing raw material flows and attracting private investment into the sector.

    6. Transatlantic Cooperation Is Key
      A united Europe-North America front remains vital in navigating current and future security challenges. Strengthened transatlantic ties are viewed as a foundation for Europe’s long-term defense and industrial resilience.

    The event underscored that securing Europe’s raw materials is no longer just an economic issue—it’s a matter of defense and strategic survival.

  • Critical Raw Materials: A Catalyst for Ukraine’s Economic Transformation

    Critical Raw Materials: A Catalyst for Ukraine’s Economic Transformation

    Ukraine’s abundant deposits of critical raw materials could serve as a key driver for its economic growth and global market integration, according to We Build Ukraine co-founder Oleksandr Kubrakov.

    Kubrakov points out that the current closed nature of Ukraine’s mining sector poses a major challenge for investors. He recommends several reforms: aligning Ukraine’s mineral reporting standards with international frameworks, streamlining land acquisition for mining operations, and introducing industry incentives. He also emphasizes the need to digitize geological data, particularly through AI technology, to make it more accessible.

    Beyond just extraction, Kubrakov envisions developing comprehensive value chains – from building infrastructure to establishing local processing facilities and manufacturing finished products, such as electric vehicle components and medical-grade titanium items.

    The country holds impressive positions globally in terms of mineral reserves, ranking eighth in coal, fifth in iron ore, and fourth in manganese ore (a crucial element in glass, ceramic, and steel production).

  • German Industry Urged to Tackle Dependence on Imported Raw Materials

    German Industry Urged to Tackle Dependence on Imported Raw Materials

    According to the German industry association BDI, the country’s reliance on raw materials from abroad has reached unprecedented levels and must be addressed as a critical industrial policy priority. BDI head Siegfried Russwurm emphasized this point at a conference on resource security, noting that the dependence poses a dual risk for both decarbonisation and digitalisation. An analysis by the BDI revealed that a potential ban on lithium exports from China could jeopardize up to 115 billion euros in value creation in Germany, with the automotive sector facing losses of around 42 billion euros. Notably, China supplied about half of Germany’s lithium imports in 2024, a significant rise from just 18 percent in 2014, despite controlling only a fifth of the world’s proven lithium resources. Russwurm urged policymakers to proactively mitigate such risks, asserting that the current response time is insufficient. He argued that secure access to raw materials is imperative for national security, especially as autocratic governments leverage resources for political blackmail. Traditional market-based approaches are ineffective in this context, he added. To maintain a competitive edge in global supply chains, Germany and Europe must promptly pursue countermeasures, including domestic mining and processing projects, establishing international partnerships, and enhancing resource recovery rates through recycling. Russwurm highlighted that Germany has untapped potential in mineral resources, such as two significant lithium reserves, and the BDI plans to develop ten mines, 15 processing plants, and 15 recycling facilities by 2030. He reiterated the urgency of making decisive investments, as raw materials like cobalt, copper, and lithium are essential for energy transition technologies including electric vehicle batteries and wind turbines. A secure and sustainable supply of these crucial materials is vital for achieving Germany’s strategic energy and industrial policy goals and for transitioning to a climate-neutral economy.

  • Kazakhstan Implements Measures to Address Raw Material Shortage

    Kazakhstan Implements Measures to Address Raw Material Shortage

    The Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan has mandated domestic raw material producers to supply the necessary volumes of products to enterprises in the processing industry. This decision comes in response to the ongoing challenge of raw material shortages faced by Kazakh metallurgists, primarily due to exports. On average, around 87% of primary metals were shipped to other countries, exacerbating the deficit domestically. It is expected that the amendments introduced in May will alleviate this issue, ensuring that domestic industrial enterprises are adequately supplied with raw materials. Additionally, these measures aim to replenish the domestic market with finished products and enhance Kazakhstan’s export potential. By 2029, Kazakhstan intends to increase lead and aluminum processing by four and five times respectively, while copper processing is projected to increase thirteenfold by that time.

  • EU and Australia Nearing Strategic Partnership on Raw Materials for Green and Digital Transitions

    EU and Australia Nearing Strategic Partnership on Raw Materials for Green and Digital Transitions

    The European Union (EU) and Australia are on the brink of forging a strategic partnership aimed at securing the essential raw materials crucial for their respective green and digital transitions. According to a spokesperson from the European Commission, negotiations have been underway for a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will lay the groundwork for this partnership. Commission spokesperson Johanna Bernsel disclosed to POLITICO on Monday that they anticipate signing this pivotal agreement as early as May. Sources close to the discussions revealed that both parties have reached a substantial consensus on the content of the MoU, which is nearing its final form. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of the talks, suggested that the announcement of the deal could be expected in the upcoming weeks or months.

  • EU Commission President Visits Greenland Amid Rising Strategic Importance

    EU Commission President Visits Greenland Amid Rising Strategic Importance

    Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, is embarking on a significant journey to Greenland, reflecting the escalating significance of the region due to factors like melting Arctic ice, the demand for green-technology raw materials, and growing competition from China. Despite not being a part of the EU, Greenland holds substantial interest for Brussels, particularly for its abundance of raw materials, believed to encompass 25 out of the 34 materials deemed essential by the EU.

    Von der Leyen’s visit, alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, entails stops in the Faroe Islands before heading to Greenland to inaugurate a new EU Commission office in Nuuk. This diplomatic excursion aligns with Von der Leyen’s reelection aspirations and follows calls for accelerated green efforts within the EU after recent elections, as highlighted by the EU’s climate chief, Wopke Hoekstra.

    Tomas Baert, Von der Leyen’s special adviser on trade and international partnerships, emphasized Greenland’s significance in providing critical raw materials essential for the EU’s green transition. He underscored the need for partnerships to harness Greenland’s vast potential, acknowledging the geopolitical implications of China’s extraction-focused approach in contrast to the EU’s collaborative model.

    The establishment of the EU Commission office in Greenland underscores the EU’s commitment to bilateral cooperation, as articulated by Naaja H Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for business, trade, and raw materials. Nathanielsen highlighted the mutual benefits of cooperation, emphasizing Greenland’s need for external support to develop its mineral sector, crucial for economic diversification alongside traditional sectors like fishing.

    Amidst this geopolitical backdrop, the visit also coincides with critical developments in Denmark’s relationship with Greenland, amidst a growing independence movement and concerns over historical violations, including the forced sterilization of women and girls. While addressing these sensitive issues remains unresolved, the trip underscores the complex dynamics shaping the region’s future.