In a recent development, the geological exploration company C29 Metals Limited has submitted applications for new exploration licenses in Kazakhstan. The areas of interest are situated to the south and north of the company’s current exploration site, according to inbusiness.kz. C29 Metals is looking to secure rights to study two sections of land: one covering 213 km² near the Ulutau Uranium Project and another 39 km² site close to the Botaburum mine. The company considers these zones promising based on historical drilling data and satellite imagery. It is estimated that the subsurface may contain 3,800 tonnes of uranium oxide. Currently, the Australian company holds full ownership of the Ulutau project. However, it remains unclear how they plan to proceed with extraction, as current legislation stipulates that mining of this metal must involve organizations with a majority stake held by Kazatomprom.
Website: Asia.com
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Полиметаллическое месторождение Шалкия запустят к концу 2026 года
Полиметаллическое месторождение Шалкия, расположенное в Кызылординской области, планируется к запуску к концу 2026 года. Здесь будет построена обогатительная фабрика, способная перерабатывать 4 миллиона тонн руды в год. По данным LS, инвестор вложит в проект 323 миллиарда тенге. План горных работ уже готов, а добыча начнется в 2025 году. Уже подписаны контракты на поставку оборудования для обогатительной фабрики, и ведутся торги по выбору подрядчика для строительства. Месторождение принадлежит компании «ШалкияЦинк», входящей в состав «Тау-Кен Самрук». Первоначально планировалось запустить месторождение в 2023 году, однако сроки были перенесены. Месторождение Шалкия богато цинком и свинцом, содержание которых в руде составляет 4,27% и 1,28% соответственно. Запасы, классифицированные по категориям В+С1+С2, оцениваются в 127,5 миллиона тонн. Для извлечения металлов из руды будет использоваться метод селективной флотации, а цинк также пройдет этап тонкого измельчения концентрата флотации.
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Shalkiya Polymetallic Deposit to Launch by Late 2026
The Shalkiya polymetallic deposit, located in the Kyzylorda region, is set to commence operations by the end of 2026. The site will feature a beneficiation plant capable of processing 4 million tons of ore annually. According to LS, the investor will inject 323 billion tenge into the project. The mining plan is already in place, with extraction scheduled to begin in 2025. Contracts for equipment supply for the beneficiation plant have been signed, and tenders are underway to select a contractor for the construction phase. The deposit is owned by ShalkiyaZinc, a subsidiary of Tau-Ken Samruk. The initial timeline for launching the deposit was set for 2023, but the plans have since been postponed. The Shalkiya deposit is rich in zinc and lead, with the ore containing 4.27% zinc and 1.28% lead. The reserves, categorized as B+C1+C2, are estimated at 127.5 million tons. The extraction of metals from the ore will utilize selective flotation, with zinc undergoing a fine grinding process for flotation concentrate.
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Cove Capital исследует месторождения редкоземельных металлов в Костанайской области Казахстана
Американская инвестиционная компания Cove Capital активно исследует потенциальные месторождения редкоземельных металлов в Костанайской области Казахстана. Партнёром проекта выступает казахстанская компания Казгеология, входящая в структуру «Тау-Кен Самрук». Геологоразведка осуществляется за счёт Cove Capital, как сообщил в интервью казахстанскому изданию «Курсив» управляющий партнёр и учредитель компании Пини Альтхаус.
«Месторождение содержит множество различных редкоземельных металлов, но основное внимание уделяется четырём элементам, используемым для производства постоянных магнитов: неодиму, празеодиму, диспрозию и тербию», — отметил г-н Альтхаус. В месторождении также имеются значительные запасы иттрия, спрос и предложение на который ещё предстоит оценить.
Проект разработки месторождения находится на ранней стадии реализации, и предварительное технико-экономическое обоснование указывает на наличие 380 тысяч тонн редкоземельных металлов. По словам г-на Альтхауса, «проект выглядит многообещающим, поэтому мы в него вложились и надеемся, что это станет крупным редкоземельным проектом».
Тем не менее, рентабельность разработки месторождения пока остаётся под вопросом, так как партнёры должны убедиться в возможности добычи этих высокоценных материалов. «Потребуется несколько лет, чтобы развить ресурс, убедиться, что металлы можно обработать, и что у нас есть запасы. Только тогда мы начнём рассматривать сценарии добычи и её прибыльность», — пояснил управляющий партнёр Cove Capital.
У Cove Capital есть 11 концессий на разработку критически важных материалов, таких как литий, бериллий, тантал, родий, цезий, рубидий и олово в Восточном Казахстане. Cove Capital, представленная здесь дочерней компанией KAZ Critical Minerals, опирается на данные советских геологических изысканий, которые уточняются с использованием новых технологий и методов исследований.
Кроме того, Cove Capital обсуждает с правительством Казахстана возможность постройки завода по обработке редкоземельных металлов, причём объём капитальных вложений в этот проект может достигать 500 млн долларов. Такой завод мог бы стать промышленным хабом и альтернативой экспорту в Китай.
Основанная в 2016 году, Cove Capital занимается инвестициями в горнодобывающую промышленность. Компания реализует проекты по разработке месторождений критически важных минералов, драгоценных и основных металлов в Северной Америке, Австралии, Аргентине и других странах.
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Cove Capital Explores Rare Earth Metals in Kazakhstan’s Kostanay Region
The American investment firm Cove Capital is actively exploring potential rare earth metal deposits in Kazakhstan’s Kostanay region. The project is partnered with the Kazakh company Kazgeology, which is part of the “Tau-Ken Samruk” structure. The geological exploration is being funded by Cove Capital, according to an interview with Pini Althaus, managing partner and founder of the company, published in the Kazakh outlet “Kursiv.”
“The site contains a variety of rare earth metals, with a primary focus on four elements used in the production of permanent magnets: neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium,” said Mr. Althaus. The deposit also has significant reserves of yttrium, for which supply and demand are yet to be fully assessed.
The project is currently in the early stages of implementation, with preliminary feasibility studies indicating the presence of 380,000 tons of rare earth metals. Mr. Althaus noted, “The project looks promising, which is why we invested in it, and we hope it becomes a major rare earth project.”
However, the profitability of the mining operation remains uncertain, as partners need to confirm the feasibility of extracting these high-value materials. “It will take several years to develop the resource, ensure the metals can be processed, and verify our reserves before we start considering mining scenarios and profitability,” explained the managing partner of Cove Capital.
Cove Capital holds 11 concessions for the development of critical materials such as lithium, beryllium, tantalum, rhodium, cesium, rubidium, and tin in Eastern Kazakhstan. Represented by its subsidiary, KAZ Critical Minerals, Cove Capital relies on data from Soviet-era geological surveys, refined with modern technologies and research methods.
Additionally, Cove Capital is in discussions with the Kazakh government regarding the construction of a rare earth metals processing plant, with capital investment potentially reaching $500 million. This facility could serve as an industrial hub and an alternative to exporting these metals to China.
Founded in 2016, Cove Capital invests in the mining industry, with projects focused on critical minerals, precious metals, and base metals in North America, Australia, Argentina, and other countries.
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Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex Begins Granulated Production of Gold, Silver, and Copper
The Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AGMK) has recently commenced the production of gold, silver, and copper in granulated form. According to company information, granulated gold is extensively used in the jewelryindustry, medicine, radioelectronics, microelectronics, the chemical industry, and the manufacturing of measuring instruments.
In the jewelry industry, losses increase during the melting of bars and other mechanical processes, leading to financial losses for jewelers. The use of gold and silver granules helps reduce the cost of jewelry items and improve their quality. Moreover, raw materials in granulated form are a key requirement of leading manufacturers in the modern jewelry industry.
In addition, AGMK specialists have also established the production of granulated copper. After analyzing the market, the company plans to start producing granules from other non-ferrous metals.
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Казатомпром Начинает Геологоразведку на Восточном Участке Месторождения Жалпак
Казатомпром, ведущая урановая компания Казахстана, получила разрешение на проведение геологоразведочных работ на участке «Восточный», относящемся к месторождению Жалпак. Это разрешение позволит компании исследовать и уточнить запасы урана на данной территории. Ранее проведенные поисковые работы, финансируемые Казатомпромом, выявили наличие урановых залежей категорий Р1 и Р2. Оценочные запасы месторождения Жалпак составляют около 30 тысяч тонн урана. Новая геологоразведка направлена на переведение ресурсов в запасы категорий С2 и С1, а также на уточнение объема урановых запасов. Проект рассчитан на шесть лет, по завершении которых запасы будут поставлены на государственный баланс. В настоящее время Казатомпром ведет добычу урана на 26 месторождениях и обеспечивает около 20% мировой добычи урана в 2023 году.
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Kazatomprom Begins Geological Exploration at the Eastern Section of Zhalpak Deposit
Kazatomprom, the leading uranium company in Kazakhstan, has received permission to conduct geological exploration at the Eastern section of the Zhalpak deposit. This authorization will enable the company to investigate and refine the uranium reserves in this area. Previously, exploration funded by Kazatomprom discovered uranium deposits of categories P1 and P2. The potential reserves at the Zhalpak deposit are preliminarily estimated at 30 thousand tons of uranium. The new geological exploration aims to convert these resources into reserves of categories C2 and C1 and to determine more accurate uranium reserves. The exploration project is planned for six years, after which the calculated reserves will be recorded on the state balance sheet. Currently, Kazatomprom is extracting uranium from 26 deposits and accounted for about 20% of the world’s primary uranium production in 2023.
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U.S. Economic Security Hinges on Strategic Minerals from Central Asia and Beyond
The future of America’s economic and political security heavily depends on securing a stable supply of strategic minerals. These minerals are crucial for modern technologies, including smartphones, jet engines, and wind turbines. According to the World Economic Forum, strategic minerals are poised to become the “new oil” of the 21st century. The International Energy Agency predicts that demand for these minerals in the energy sector alone could triple by 2030.
Currently, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) dominates this critical sector, controlling 60% of global productionand 85% of processing capacity. This dominance poses a significant risk to future U.S. access to these essential resources. To mitigate this risk, the United States is exploring the potential of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Ukraineas sources for strategic minerals. These regions are rich in largely unexploited natural resources that could be key to reducing reliance on China.
An aggressive pursuit of these resources could provide the United States with a secure supply of strategic minerals. Additionally, it would offer the broader Caspian region and Ukraine an opportunity for greater global market integration and economic sovereignty. By participating more meaningfully in the global strategic mineral supply chain, these regions could reduce their own dependence on Russia and China, thereby enhancing regional stability and economic growth.
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Kaz Critical Minerals Expands Exploration in East Kazakhstan with New Licenses and Partnerships
Kaz Critical Minerals LLP, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kaz Resources LLC and a portfolio company of Cove Capital LLC, has achieved a major milestone in its exploration activities in East Kazakhstan. The company recently completed drilling the first 1,000 meters on its critical minerals licenses, uncovering several previously unreported positive anomalies. This discovery has prompted the company to extend its drilling program to better define these anomalies.
In addition to these findings, Kaz Critical Minerals has been granted two new exploration licenses, further expanding its operational footprint. This expansion will enhance the company’s ability to explore key areas with high potential for valuable mineral deposits, with an immediate focus on continued drilling operations.
Kaz Resources is also collaborating with Hatch, a globally recognized mining and engineering consulting firm. Hatch will provide professional services in key areas, leveraging its extensive experience in mining and infrastructure projects, including those in Kazakhstan. This partnership aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Kaz Critical Minerals’ exploration programs.
Pini Althaus, CEO of Kaz Resources, expressed enthusiasm about the progress, stating, “The encouraging drilling results, coupled with the new licenses and our partnership with Hatch, position us strategically to unlock Kazakhstan’s rich mineral resources. We are committed to driving progress and creating value for our stakeholders and Kazakhstan through meticulous exploration and innovative partnerships.”
Yuri Savguira, Senior Engagement Manager at Hatch, added, “We are excited to collaborate with Kaz Resources on this promising venture. Our combined expertise will support the development and execution of these projects, bringing our experience and excellence to the forefront.”
Kaz Resources remains focused on exploring and developing critical minerals essential for the energy transition, advanced technology, and defense applications. The company’s efforts align with Kazakhstan’s broader economic and sustainable resource management goals.
In 2023, Kaz Resources, through Kaz Critical Minerals LLP, became the first U.S. company to receive critical minerals and rare earths land concessions in Kazakhstan. These concessions include valuable minerals such as rare earth elements, lithium, tantalum, beryllium, niobium, cesium, and tin. A significant partnership with Kazakhstan’s national mining company, Tau-Ken Samruk, and Cove Capital was formed to explore and develop rare earth and critical metals, particularly at the Akbulak rare earth project in the Kostanay region.