Discussion with the Chief Executive Officer of Solidcore Resources
Moderator
Zhanbolat Kakishev
Chief Product Officer
AIFC
Presentation
AIFC Kazakhstan Junior Mining Platform
Zhanbolat Kakishev
Chief Product Officer
AIFC
Panellist
Vitaly Nesis
Chief Executive Officer
Solidcore Resources
Critical Minerals and Global Strategic Alliances
Format: Panel with high-level officials and Industry ambassadors
Kazakhstan pursues foreign direct investment in critical minerals while strengthening state control over its natural resources. The 2026 Tax Code amendments establish “strategic investor” categories with tax incentives tied to mandatory local processing requirements, potentially undermining prior reforms aimed at improving business and investment environment. Recent multi-billion-dollar deals with China highlight escalating competition and a shift toward midstream processing. This panel will examine how the UK, USA, and EU can navigate the tightening regulatory landscape while leveraging Kazakhstan’s established processing advantage to turn high-level diplomacy into technology transfers and offtake agreements to build resilient supply partnerships amid China competition.
Moderator
Ros Lund
CEO
Eurasia Critical Minerals Organisation
Panellists:
Julie Stufft
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Aleska Simkic
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan
Sally Axworthy
His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan
British Embassy in Kazakhstan
Yasumasa Iijima
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Vision 2030: Developing High Value-Added Mining and Metallurgical Clusters
Format: Presentations and panel discussion with high-level officials and Industry Champions
Kazakhstan ranks sixth globally in total mineral reserves, hosting some 5,000 deposits. The country’s strategic value lies not only in the volume of its resources but in the diversity of its portfolio. Kazakhstan is moving swiftly into midstream mineral processing, aiming to maximise returns from its gold, copper, tungsten and rare earth reserves. This shift merges industrial policy with capital strategy, as Chinese mega‑projects deliver scale while Western investors introduce high‑tech, ESG‑aligned processing like POX and green-hydrogen-ready HBI. The session explores how Kazakhstan can attract financing, stabilise commodity-linked revenues, and build resilience amid volatile global metals markets. Can its energy and water systems sustain this leap? Is the Middle Corridor ready for high‑value exports? How will fiscal policy and investor confidence shape Kazakhstan’s next frontier in value‑added metals?
Moderator
David Pearce
Corporate Consultant (Mining Engineering)
SRK Consulting (UK)
Presentations:
From Local Champions to Global Players: The Next Stage of Development for Mining Companies in Central Asia
Vasily Storozhuk
Managing Partner
VSSC
Building Long-Term Partnerships for the Development of Critical Minerals Projects
Nariman Absametov
CEO
Tau-Ken Samruk
Dastan Kosherbayev
Chief Strategy and International Development Officer
Kazatomprom
Cove Kaz Capital – Severniy Katpar Case Study
Dominic Heaton
CEO
Cove Kaz Capital Group
CNMC: Architecture of the Global Copper Industry
Almat Aliyev
Managing Director
SM Minerals
Panellist
Zhandos Shaikhy
Deputy Chairman of the Management Board
National Investment Holding “Baiterek”
Strategy session 2 – Policy Dialogue: Balancing Control and Investment
Format: Panel with high-level officials and Industry ambassadors
Kazakhstan is navigating a dual-track regulatory shift. While aggressively courting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for critical minerals, highlighted by a transition from a Mineral Extraction Tax (MET) to a royalty-based model by 2026–2027-the state is simultaneously tightening its grip on its natural resources. New legislative amendments under the 2026 Tax Code will formalise “strategic investor” statuses and link fiscal terms to strict processing obligations. This session examines how Kazakhstan can reconcile rising resource nationalism with the need for global capital, comparing its strategy against other major mining jurisdictions to find a sustainable path for long-term development.
Moderator:
Samat Daumov
Partner
GRATA International
Panellists:
Almas Kushumov
Director of the Department of Subsoil Use
Ministry of Industry and Construction
Rustam Shuntukov
Managing Director
National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Atameken”
Nikolay Radostovets
Executive Director
Republican Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises (AGMP)
Ruslan Baimishev
President
Kazakhstan Chamber of Mines
Nikolai Yenshin
Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee
PONEN
Mining has moved to the centre of geopolitical competition, as critical minerals underpin clean energy, defence and digital technologies. Kazakhstan sits at a strategic crossroads in this new landscape: a major uranium and copper producer with emerging rare earths potential, positioned between Russia, China and Western markets. This session examines how control over resources, refining and midstream processing is reshaping alliances, trade routes and sanctions. Where Kazakhstan fits in evolving supply chains, how partners seek to diversify away from single suppliers, and what this means for the country’s foreign policy and development path.
Moderator
Michael Zlobin
Head of Equity for Natural Resources
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Presentations:
Welcoming Remarks
Iran Sharkhan
Vice-Minister
Ministry of industry and construction Republic of Kazakhstan
New Trends in the Geopolitics of Critical Minerals: Implications for Central Asia
David Lewis
Senior Political Counsellor
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Critical Minerals, Great Powers, and Kazakhstan’s Multi-Vector Reality
Eldaniz Gusseinov
Co-Founder and Head of Research
Nightingale Int.
Regulation of the Mining Industry in Central Asia: Investment Lessons from Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan for Kazakhstan
Samat Daumov
Partner
GRATA International
Organised in partnership with Strategia Worldwide
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What is a crisis in Mining?
The four stages of crisis communications. Internal alignment + External engagement
How lack of communications turned a minor incident into a loss of license to operate
Case studies from the region
The national mining company Tau-Ken Samruk has initiated the use of drone technology for state geological exploration in Kazakhstan’s Ulytau region. This project, which is part of a larger initiative by the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development, aims to cover approximately 50,000 square kilometres with airborne geophysical studies. Currently, the company Kazgeologia is conducting these studies, as reported by the press service of the Samruk-Kazyna fund.
The drones, equipped with geophysical sensors, are capable of conducting simultaneous magnetic, gamma-spectrometric, and gravimetric surveys. The measurement system includes devices from Medusa Radiometrics (Netherlands) for spectrometry, Geometrics (USA) for magnetometry, and iMAR Navigation (Germany) for inertial navigation. The positioning accuracy claimed is within a few centimetres, facilitated by RTK navigation technology combined with lidar systems that adjust flight trajectories, enabling the drones to operate effectively in complex terrain.
Data processing at low altitudes provides sufficient resolution to detect small geological anomalies that might not be visible through traditional aerial surveys. This project aligns with a broader goal set by the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan, which aims to conduct detailed geological mapping of the entire country at a scale of 1:50,000 by the end of 2026. To achieve this, modern technologies, including drone systems, will be integrated into the geological survey processes.
In 2026, Kazakhstan allocated over 40.7 billion tenge from the government reserve to launch 20 geological survey projects at the 1:50,000 scale. The total area to be explored is around 100,000 square kilometres, with geological exploration expected to conclude by the end of 2028. This initiative is a significant step towards enhancing the country’s geological data and resource management, showcasing the integration of advanced technology in the mining sector.
Hongda Group is set to embark on a significant investment project in Kazakhstan, which could potentially surpass Kazcink and emerge as the largest producer of lead and zinc in Central Asia. Following a working visit by the First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Nurlan Naliyev, to the Kyzylorda region, attention has been drawn to this ambitious yet relatively low-profile project in the country’s mining and metallurgy sector. The project, valued at $1.3 billion, aims to establish two underground mines and two processing plants with a combined capacity of 8 million tonnes of ore per year, alongside a full-cycle metallurgical plant, creating over 3,000 jobs in the process.
The project will focus on the Talap and Burabay-Zhalgyzagash deposits, located just 20 kilometres apart. The Burabay-Zhalgyzagash site will be developed through underground mining to a depth of 500 metres. Both deposits are part of the Akuyuk-Maidantal lead-zinc ore district in the Karatau region, which also houses the largest deposit in the area, Shalkiya. Initial exploration activities took place between 1980 and 1985, with detailed surveys conducted from 2010 to 2012. The reserves are classified under category C2, with forecasted resources rated as P1, showing an average content of 2.01% zinc and 1.62% lead, with geologists noting the potential for resource growth at greater depths.
Investors have indicated that the metallurgical plant will have the capacity to produce 420,000 tonnes of zinc and 220,000 tonnes of lead annually, totalling 640,000 tonnes of metals. In comparison, Kazcink is projected to produce 251,800 tonnes of zinc and 76,700 tonnes of lead by 2025. Upon reaching its designed capacity, the new complex could produce 66.8% more zinc and 2.87 times more lead than Kazcink. If the project proceeds as planned, it stands to become the largest lead and zinc producer in Central Asia. Notably, the Chinese investors have already invested approximately 9 billion tenge in geological exploration, operating 15 drilling rigs simultaneously. While official reserves have yet to be disclosed, the scale of drilling and the proposed processing capacity suggest a substantial resource base. An official groundbreaking ceremony is expected later this year, reflecting a commendable approach where significant funds are first allocated for geological exploration to confirm resource viability before committing to the construction of a large-scale mining and metallurgical complex.
Kazakhstan’s copper industry has reaffirmed its status as a significant player in the global market, producing 710,000 tonnes of copper in 2025. This output has secured the country a place in the top ten copper-producing nations, ranking ninth alongside Indonesia, which reported similar production figures. The data, sourced from the Energy Institute and the United States Geological Survey, highlights Kazakhstan’s continued relevance in the competitive landscape of copper mining.
The global copper production landscape is led by Chile, which produced a staggering 5.3 million tonnes in the past year. The Democratic Republic of Congo follows in second place with 3.2 million tonnes, while Peru rounds out the top three with 2.7 million tonnes. China and Russia occupy the fourth and fifth positions, respectively, with outputs of 1.8 million tonnes and 1.3 million tonnes.
In addition to Kazakhstan and Indonesia, other notable producers include the United States, which achieved a production level of 1 million tonnes, Zambia at 740,000 tonnes, and Australia with 730,000 tonnes. Collectively, the top ten copper-producing countries accounted for a total of 18.39 million tonnes of copper, contributing significantly to the estimated global production of over 23 million tonnes, as reported by the Energy Institute.
Kazakhstan’s performance in copper production not only underscores its mining capabilities but also reflects the country’s strategic importance in the global supply chain for this essential metal, which is critical for various industries, including electronics and renewable energy. As demand for copper continues to rise, Kazakhstan’s position in the market may further strengthen, providing opportunities for investment and development in its mining sector.
At the Qyzyljar Investment Forum 2026, a significant agreement was reached that paves the way for the industrial development of the largest untapped tin deposit in Central Asia. Tin One Mining, a subsidiary of Solidcore Resources, has signed a memorandum with the relevant administration of the North Kazakhstan region, solidifying plans to build a mining and processing plant at the Sarymbet site.
According to the memorandum, the investor is committed to investing at least 150 billion tenge (approximately 315.5 million dollars) into the development of the resource, the construction of the facility, and the creation of supporting infrastructure, pending approval from the parent company’s board of directors. Regional authorities will assist the investor in project execution, taking on administrative support and facilitating agreements with government bodies.
Tin One Mining aims to establish the extraction and processing of raw materials using modern technologies. The company promises to implement advanced global solutions in environmental protection and industrial safety within its operations. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to employ around 800 people, with a preference for hiring qualified specialists from the local community.
The project’s significance is underscored by the scale of its resource base. The Sarymbet deposit, discovered in 1985, holds over 70% of Kazakhstan’s tin reserves. According to JORC standards, the deposit contains 492.4 thousand tonnes of tin with an average grade of 0.40%, along with by-product copper amounting to 91.4 thousand tonnes at a grade of 0.07%. In total, this equates to approximately 5.9 million ounces of gold equivalent.