MINEX Forum

Website: Eurasia.com

  • Imerys Expands Its European Presence in Diatomite and Perlite

    Imerys Expands Its European Presence in Diatomite and Perlite

    Imerys has completed the acquisition of Chemviron’s European diatomite and perlite assets, a subsidiary of Calgon Carbon Corporation. The deal, which follows exclusive negotiations that began in April 2024, includes facilities in France and Italy.

    The acquisition encompasses three sites employing 130 people: two diatomite extraction and processing plants in Saint-Bauzile (Ardèche) and Riom-ès-Montagnes (Cantal), France, and a perlite processing plant in Foggia (Puglia), Italy.

    This strategic acquisition strengthens Imerys’ presence in the European diatomite and perlite markets, enhancing its offerings to customers in the food, beverage, filtration, and pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, it expands Imerys’ advanced solutions portfolio, including high-permeability filtration aids for sweeteners, gelatin, and enzyme applications, along with high-performance grades for beverage filtration.

    Guillaume Delacroix, Senior Vice President, Performance Minerals EMEA & APAC at Imerys, commented, “This acquisition marks an important milestone in Imerys’ growth and investment in the future. It positions us to deliver increased value to customers in Filtration and Life Sciences, strengthening our market presence and unlocking new avenues for growth and innovation.”

  • Key Barriers in Kazakhstan’s Mining Sector Hinder Investment Climate

    Key Barriers in Kazakhstan’s Mining Sector Hinder Investment Climate

    Barriers within Kazakhstan’s mining sector have been identified as a major hurdle for investment in the country. A recent consultation document on proposed legal amendments highlighted concerns about access to mineral rights, including convoluted regulations and a lack of automation in government services.

    Further issues stem from inconsistencies between mining regulations and other areas of law, such as tax, water, land and environmental legislation. These inconsistencies create uncertainty for mining companies and hinder their ability to meet their licence obligations.

    Regulatory and Procedural Barriers

    • The current regulatory framework for mining lacks clear and efficient procedures, leading to complexities in obtaining and exercising mining rights. This includes inadequate automation of state services, insufficient regulation of state information resources, and overlapping legislation in areas such as ecology, land use, and taxation.

    Legislative Inconsistencies

    • There are inconsistencies between the mining code and other related legislation, such as water, land, and environmental laws. For example, the mining code prohibits operations on certain territories, including those within water fund lands, which contradicts previous legislation and restricts activities like sand extraction from river beds.

    Specific Issues

    • Unclear regulations on the reclamation of mining sites, conflicting provisions with the Civil Code regarding contract and license obligations, and the lack of clear guidelines on servitude payments and compensation for land use are significant issues.
    • The prohibition on mining in certain areas, such as those with high natural methane content without prior degasification, creates operational challenges due to the absence of specific norms and authorities to set these standards.

    Institutional and Administrative Challenges

    • The process of forming the State Fund for Mineral Resources Management is marred by lack of transparency and coordination between state bodies. This leads to inefficiencies in the allocation of mining rights and the management of mineral resources.
    • The requirement for exclusive rights to specific territories is not adequately ensured, leading to conflicts between different mining users.

    Practical Challenges

    • The use of experimental-industrial mining is often abused, hiding industrial-scale extraction under the guise of exploration. This practice undermines the integrity of the exploration phase.
    • The high cost of acquiring machinery for small-scale mining operations is a significant financial burden, suggesting the need for more flexible arrangements such as equipment rental.

    International Comparisons and Recommendations

    • Kazakhstan ranks 56th out of 84 countries in the Investment Attractiveness Index by the Fraser Institute, with negative evaluations in legal, tax, and labor legislation, as well as in geological data quality. To improve, Kazakhstan should analyze and adopt best practices from other countries, engage in consultations with stakeholders, and streamline regulatory processes to enhance transparency and efficiency.

    Addressing these issues is crucial for improving Kazakhstan’s investment climate, particularly in the mining sector, and aligning it with international standards to attract more foreign and domestic investment.

  • Kazakhstan Revives Mining at Key Deposits in 2024

    Kazakhstan Revives Mining at Key Deposits in 2024

    In 2024, several mining companies in Kazakhstan resumed operations at significant deposits, submitting project plans through the Unified Environmental Portal.

    OralElectroService has returned to the Uzynzhal deposit in the Karaganda region, targeting 500,000 tons of zinc-lead ore annually. The project will use open-pit mining until 2033 before transitioning to underground methods, with total reserves of 12.5 million tons.

    In East Kazakhstan, Taskara will mine gold and silver at the Taskora deposit. The three-year project focuses on processing 31,000 tons of ore annually.

    In the Zhambyl region, Ushalyk Gold Operating plans to extract 727,000 tons of ore at the Ushalyk deposit over four years, processing up to 250,000 tons annually to produce flotation concentrate.

    These initiatives highlight the mining sector’s sustained importance in Kazakhstan’s economy.

  • Vale and GreenIron Partner to Decarbonize Mining Supply Chains

    Vale and GreenIron Partner to Decarbonize Mining Supply Chains

    Vale has announced a memorandum of understanding with Swedish company GreenIron, focusing on decarbonizing mining industry supply chains in Brazil and Sweden. The collaboration includes feasibility studies for a direct reduction plant in Brazil, to be managed by GreenIron, and the provision of Vale’s iron ore for GreenIron’s commercial operations in Sandviken, Sweden. This partnership aligns with global sustainability goals, targeting innovative solutions to reduce emissions in iron and steel production while strengthening ties between Brazilian and Swedish industries.

  • Возобновление добычи металлов: ключевые проекты в Казахстане

    Возобновление добычи металлов: ключевые проекты в Казахстане

    В 2024 году несколько казахстанских компаний возобновили работы на значимых месторождениях, представив свои планы на согласование через Единый экологический портал.

    Компания «ОралЭлектроСервис» планирует снова приступить к добыче полиметаллов на месторождении Узынжал в Карагандинской области. Здесь будут ежегодно извлекать 500 тыс. тонн цинково-свинцовых руд, используя открытый способ до 2033 года, а затем перейти на подземные работы. Балансовые запасы составляют 12,5 млн тонн.

    В Восточном Казахстане возобновятся работы на месторождении Таскора, где компания «Таскара» сосредоточится на добыче оставшихся запасов золота и серебра. Проект рассчитан на три года с объемом добычи 31 тыс. тонн руды ежегодно.

    Ещё один перспективный проект — месторождение Ушалык в Жамбылской области, которое будет расконсервировано компанией Ushalyk Gold Operating. За четыре года здесь планируют извлечь 727 тыс. тонн руды для производства флотоконцентрата. Ежегодно будет перерабатываться до 250 тыс. тонн.

    Эти проекты демонстрируют усилия по возрождению добычи полезных ископаемых, сохраняя важную роль горной отрасли в экономике Казахстана.

  • North Macedonia Advances Solar Energy with EBRD Grant for Two Photovoltaic Plants

    North Macedonia Advances Solar Energy with EBRD Grant for Two Photovoltaic Plants

    The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has allocated nearly €5 million to North Macedonia’s state energy company, ESM, to construct two photovoltaic power plants with a combined capacity of 30 MW on former coal mine sites. The projects, supported under the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), complement a €25 million loan for Bitola 1 (20 MW) and Oslomej 2 (10 MW). Set for completion by 2026, the plants will produce 46 GWh annually, serving 7,000 households and cutting CO₂ emissions by 40,000 tons.

    Energy Minister Sanja Božinovska highlighted the environmental benefits, including the reclamation of 45 hectares near Bitola and Oslomej, enhancing local conditions. The initiative aligns with broader decarbonization efforts, with EBRD’s Fatih Türkmenoğlu emphasizing its role as a model for sustainable energy transitions.

    Since 2009, North Macedonia has secured €500 million via WBIF for projects spanning energy, transport, and digitalization, further bolstered by new reform frameworks for a greener future.

  • Uzbekistan’s New Copper Smelting Complex Completion Plans confirmed

    Uzbekistan’s New Copper Smelting Complex Completion Plans confirmed

    Uzbekistan has outlined the planned completion date for the construction of a new copper smelting complex at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (AGMK). According to Abdullah Khursanov, the chairman of the AGMK board, the project aims to expand the existing capacity for producing cathode copper from 148,000 tons to 300,000 tons.

    The new complex, located on the site of the existing facility, will include several key components: a metallurgical workshop, a sulfuric acid workshop, an oxygen block, a slag-enrichment plant, a concentrate storage and feed preparation facility, a copper electrolysis workshop, and a system for electrical supply to the new plant, as well as supporting infrastructure.

    Khursanov noted that contractors have already been identified for the metallurgical and sulfuric acid workshops, the oxygen block, and the internal electrical supply systems. Contracts have been signed and financing has been secured for these aspects of the project.

    The project is being implemented with significant financial support from KfW IPEX Bank and AKA Bank. KfW IPEX Bank is acting as the financing organizer, including the creation of a bank syndicate, which facilitates effective coordination of international cooperation.

    Previously, AGMK signed an agreement with German banks KfW IPEX and AKA to receive €146 million as the first tranche for financing the construction of the new copper smelting complex in Uzbekistan.

  • Uzbekistan’s Coal Production Hits Record 6.7 Million Tons in 2024

    Uzbekistan’s Coal Production Hits Record 6.7 Million Tons in 2024

    In 2024, Uzbekistan’s largest coal mining enterprise, Uzbekcoal, achieved a record coal production of 6.7 million tons, marking a nearly 15% increase from the previous year. The significant growth was largely driven by the Angren coalfield, which produced over 5.5 million tons of coal. The Apartak coalfield also set a new record by exceeding 1.2 million tons for the first time, while contributions from Uzbekcoal’s underground coal mining facility added to the total production.

    The Angren coalfield was the major contributor, with production exceeding 5.5 million tons. Additionally, the Apartak coalfield surpassed 1.2 million tons for the first time.

    Uzbekcoal has shown steady growth in coal production over recent years: 3.8 million tons in 2019, 3.87 million tons in 2020, 4.78 million tons in 2021, 5.07 million tons in 2022, and 5.84 million tons in 2023.

    Uzbekistan’s total coal production has also seen rapid growth, from less than 4 million tons in 2016 to 6.55 million tons by 2023. For 2024, the target was set at 8 million tons, including 900,000 tons produced by private entrepreneurs. The country’s coal reserves are estimated at 2 billion tons.

    The government plans to increase coal production to 10 million tons by 2025 and aims to reach 20 million tons annually in the long term. Minister of Mining and Geology Bobir Islamov emphasized the importance of private sector participation, noting that increased private investment and new projects are crucial for sustaining growth. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has directed efforts to expand investment projects in the coal sector to enhance production and efficiency

  • Tajikistan could become a leader in antimony production

    Tajikistan could become a leader in antimony production

    Tajikistan is currently the second-largest producer of antimony in the world, after China. However, China has announced a ban on the export of antimony, which has opened up new opportunities for Tajikistan to become a key supplier of this strategic metal on the global market.

    According to customs statistics, Tajikistan exported over 4,300 tons of antimony ore and concentrates worth around $14 million in the first nine months of 2024, placing it second in the world after China. The Chinese ban on antimony exports, citing national security concerns, has led to a significant increase in prices, from $12,000 to $20,000 per ton.

    The US, which imports 63% of its antimony from China, is now forced to seek alternative suppliers, such as Tajikistan and Australia, to meet its needs. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), Tajikistan was the second-largest producer of antimony in the world in 2023, producing 21,000 tons, just behind China’s 40,000 tons.

    Tajikistan’s most significant antimony reserves are located in the Dzheitun and Konchok mineral fields in the north of the country. The Anzob Mining and Processing Plant is currently operating on the basis of the Dzheitun mercury-antimony deposit.

    Recent exploration and assessment work in the deep horizons of the Dzheitun deposit has revealed significant antimony-rich ores containing over 15% metal, as well as industrial concentrations of gold and other valuable elements.

    In the coming years, the country’s geological agency plans to increase the Anzob plant’s production capacity to 700,000 tons of ore per year, using the reserves of the Dzheitun deposit.

    Tajikistan’s mineral base of antimony can be significantly expanded through the expansion of geological exploration in other mineral fields, where promising areas have been identified.

    According to the country’s customs service, Tajikistan exported 9,300 tons of antimony worth $102.3 million in 2022 and over 10,600 tons worth around $107 million in 2023.

    President Emomali Rahmon has instructed the government to focus on processing antimony into a finished product, which will be a key task in the development of the industry.

    Antimony, used in the defense industry and the production of batteries, is a strategically important resource. Experts believe that the current global trends, including China’s ban on exports, open up new opportunities for Tajikistan to become a key supplier of antimony on the global market.

  • AzerGold’s export revenues increased by more than 41 percent in 2024

    AzerGold’s export revenues increased by more than 41 percent in 2024

    AzerGold JSC has seen a significant increase in exports, with products worth 156.5 million dollars being shipped from January to November of this year. This represents a 41.5 percent rise compared to the same period in the previous year, according to a report by Azernews.

    The data was included in the “Export Review” published by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) in December. The review highlights a notable improvement in export revenues, with AzerGold JSC’s earnings from January to November of last year totaling 110.6 million dollars.