MINEX Forum

Website: Kazakhstan.com

  • Kyrgyzstan Begins Development of Major Titanomagnetite Deposit

    Kyrgyzstan Begins Development of Major Titanomagnetite Deposit

    During a working trip to the Issyk-Kul region, the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Head of the Presidential Administration, Akylbek Japarov, participated in a significant event – the laying of a capsule symbolizing the start of the development of Kyrgyzstan’s largest titanomagnetite deposit, Kyzyl-Ompol, located in the Tash-Bulak area.

    The Head of the Cabinet of Ministers emphasized that the development of this valuable resource will be undertaken by the state, and the sources of financing for the project will be determined.

    “This is a very important event for Kyrgyzstan. The Kyzyl-Ompol deposit contains millions of tons of titanomagnetite. Titanium is a valuable metal used in various industries, including medicine, aviation, and space exploration. The development of this deposit will not only increase our exports but also create new jobs, providing a stimulus for the country’s economic development,” said Akylbek Japarov.

    Japarov also highlighted the importance of an environmentally safe approach to the development of the deposit, noting that technologies ensuring the safe extraction of accompanying minerals such as uranium and thorium will be applied. These elements will be removed and transported from the site in strict accordance with international safety standards.

    After the capsule-laying ceremony, Akylbek Japarov familiarized himself with the construction progress of a small hydroelectric power plant at the Orto-Tokoy reservoir. The construction of this hydroelectric station is part of the state program to increase electricity production and create new energy sources in Kyrgyzstan.

    At the end of his working trip, the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers inspected the reconstruction of the Balykchy-Bokonbaev-Karakol road, specifically the section from Balykchy to Barskoon. The decision to inspect this road was made due to complaints from local residents about the delay in repair works.

    Akylbek Japarov expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the road reconstruction and instructed the responsible parties to accelerate the work and ensure the quality execution of the project. He emphasized that the modernization of road infrastructure is an important step in the development of the transportation system and ensuring traffic safety. Japarov noted that he will personally monitor this issue.

  • Kazakhstan Launches Lithium Recovery Facility Through Battery Recycling

    Kazakhstan Launches Lithium Recovery Facility Through Battery Recycling

    In Kazakhstan, while the industrial-scale extraction of lithium is not yet fully developed, the country has started obtaining this rare metal by recycling batteries. The first facility dedicated to extracting valuable components from lithium-ion batteries has been launched at the Industrial Place business park. This new production line has a capacity of processing at least 20 tons of raw material per month, according to a report from the Almaty Social Entrepreneurship Corporation (SPK). The facility was built by the company Technic Destroy.

    The facility employs a recycling technology designed to recover lithium-containing powder, aluminum, copper, and other metals from spent batteries. The SPK estimates that 1 ton of used batteries can yield up to 250 kg of lithium, reducing the need for raw material extraction. Battery recycling is said to produce 70-80% fewer emissions compared to primary lithium mining operations.

    At present, local companies in Kazakhstan are not directly engaged in lithium extraction. The country is actively inviting foreign investors into the rare metals and rare earth industries. Earlier this year, three German companies formed a consortium to develop lithium production in Kazakhstan.

  • Surge in Chinese Companies Registered in Kazakhstan Marks Record Growth

    Surge in Chinese Companies Registered in Kazakhstan Marks Record Growth

    The number of Chinese companies registered in Kazakhstan has surged, with a 3.3% increase in August 2024 alone, as 150 new entities were added, bringing the total to 4,700 legal entities, according to the First Credit Bureau (FCB). This marks the highest monthly growth since 2022. Analysts attribute the steady rise to favorable business conditions in the region, despite a slight dip in November 2023, when the number of registered Chinese firms decreased by 20.

    Of the registered Chinese companies, more than 3,000 are currently operational, indicating strong market engagement. No other foreign partner country showed a similar increase in August. Additionally, the number of jointly owned Chinese companies rose by 2.6% month-on-month (MoM), reaching 902.

    In contrast, the number of Russian companies in Kazakhstan has been decreasing for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In August, the number of registered Russian enterprises dropped by 13 compared to July, and operating Russian firms fell by 138, reducing the total to 23,500. However, joint ventures with Russian partners increased slightly by 0.6%, bringing the total to 5,000.

    According to the Bureau of National Statistics, Kazakhstan had 31,900 registered foreign companies by August, with 12.1% based in Almaty, 11.7% in Astana, and 6.7% in the Karaganda region. The largest sectors for company registration were services, wholesale and retail trade, and professional research and engineering activities.

  • New Precious Metal Deposit to Be Developed in Ulytau Region

    New Precious Metal Deposit to Be Developed in Ulytau Region

    In Kazakhstan’s Ulytau Region, a new precious metal deposit will be developed as part of the Symtas Project. The mining company Komkon LLP has submitted a mining plan for the project on Kazakhstan’s Unified Environmental Portal. Komkon has been conducting geological exploration in the Baikonyr area of Ulytau since 1998, with the deposit’s reserves officially placed on record in 2020.

    The Symtas deposit holds reserves of 98.6 thousand tons of ore and 524.75 kg of gold, with an average content of 5.32 g/t (C1 category). Two areas, Mizernoye and Zapadnoye, have been identified as promising for further development. The project will feature two open pits, with Mizernoye extracting two ore bodies and Zapadnoye working with three. The project will also include a shared waste dump, an ore stockpile, a transport department, and supporting infrastructure, such as a field camp and repair services.

    Komkon plans to extract gold over the next three years, with the project expected to break even in 2.3 years. The company has already signed a contract with Kazakhmys Smelting LLP for the supply of gold-bearing flux, which will be processed at the Zhezkazgan copper smelter. In 2017, a semi-industrial trial of Symtas ore demonstrated the feasibility of its use as flux, achieving a 92.07% recovery rate.

  • Mining Company “Sary Arka” to Launch New Metal Extraction Project Next Year

    Mining Company “Sary Arka” to Launch New Metal Extraction Project Next Year

    Next year, the mining company “Sary Arka” is set to unveil a new project at the Bugetkol deposit, located in the Aytekebi District of the Aktobe Region. The company plans to extract metals through open-pit mining, working two quarries down to a depth of 35 meters. The projected capacity of the new facility is estimated at 770,000 tons of oxidized nickel-cobalt ores annually, with an average nickel content of 0.9%.

    According to the investment platform for projects in Russia and EAEU countries, the Bugetkol deposit has identified reserves of 251,200 tons of nickel and 13,700 tons of cobalt, making it a key source for exporting metal concentrates to China and other consumer nations. The platform also indicates a total investment of 41 billion rubles for the project.

    As per the project documentation, mining operations are expected to run from 2025 to 2051. In addition to the quarries, “Sary Arka” plans to build a tailings storage facility with a capacity of 7.3 million cubic meters to hold waste from a hydrometallurgical plant. The company has already applied for a loan from the Development Bank of Kazakhstan to fund the construction of a nickel sulfate plant.

    Earlier, the company KazMetalGroup announced that it also plans to launch its Dzhusalinskoe nickel-cobalt deposit in the Aktobe Region by 2025.

  • Kaz Critical Minerals Completes Successful Drilling Program in East Kazakhstan

    Kaz Critical Minerals Completes Successful Drilling Program in East Kazakhstan

    Kaz Critical Minerals LLC (KCM), a subsidiary of Kaz Resources LLC and portfolio company of Cove Capital LLC, has completed its drilling program on the Alday concession in East Kazakhstan, a key milestone in its efforts to develop critical minerals in the region. The program included 15 holes spanning 4,700 meters and sets the stage for further exploration across additional concessions.
    CEO Pini Althaus expressed optimism, noting that preliminary results from the Alday site are “very promising”. KCM plans to expand its drilling activities across three other concessions, fast-tracking exploration for the remainder of the 2024 field season. The company is also benefiting from timely approvals from the Kazakhstan Government, keeping their exploration schedule on track.
    KCM, with the backing of Cove Capital, remains committed to sustainable exploration, collaborating with local communities for mutual benefit. Cove Capital has also formed a strategic alliance with Kazakhstan’s Sovereign Wealth Fund and Tau-Ken Samruk to advance rare earth metal exploration, particularly through joint ventures like the Akbulak rare earth project.

  • National Atomic Company Granted License for Mineral Exploration at Budenovskoye Deposit

    National Atomic Company Granted License for Mineral Exploration at Budenovskoye Deposit

    The National Atomic Company has been granted a license to explore mineral deposits at Site No. 5 of the Budenovskoye field in the Turkestan region, according to the press center of Kazatomprom. This site is located to the northeast of the southern flank of the field and is considered a promising area for further exploration.

    The company will conduct geological exploration in this part of the Mynkuduk ore district for the next six years. Kazatomprom’s Chairman, Meirzhan Yusupov, emphasized that this new site plays a key role in the company’s strategy to increase uranium reserves.

    Experts anticipate long-term exploitation of the area due to favorable geological conditions and the well-developed transportation and energy infrastructure. Site No. 5 effectively extends the Inkai deposit southward. Preliminary estimates suggest the area holds over 18,000 tons of uranium. Kazatomprom expects a significant increase in resources following the exploration results.

    The company highlighted the high productivity of the ore in this region. Last month, Kazatomprom announced joint projects with Tajikistan’s TajRedMet in the uranium and rare-earth sectors.

  • KAZ Minerals Extends Artemyevsky Mine Operations Until 2034

    KAZ Minerals Extends Artemyevsky Mine Operations Until 2034

    KAZ Minerals has announced the extension of operations at the Artemyevsky Mine, initially launched 19 years ago, until 2034. The second phase of the mine’s development, which involved an investment of approximately $500 million, was revealed through the company’s Telegram channel. The Artemyevsky Mine produces 1.2 million tons of polymetallic ores annually, and to maintain production capacity, the company plans to explore and develop new mining horizons.

    Ildur Dautov, head of Vostoktsvetmet LLP, highlighted that although this is an expansion project, its scale and complexity are comparable to building a new mine. “By extending the life of the mine, we are ensuring social stability in the region,” Dautov stated.

    Geological exploration at the site began in 2012, and by 2018, the company had recalculated the reserves and developed a new mining project. As part of the second phase of the mine’s expansion, specialists have completed 18 kilometers of mine workings, upgraded the main ventilation system, and replaced key equipment. Additionally, they built a new air heating system, waste treatment facilities, and a tailings storage facility in the disused Nikolaevsky quarry.

    A new 742-meter air-supply shaft, equipped with an elevator and access points at two levels, has also been constructed. KAZ Minerals has added other infrastructure, including an explosives warehouse and a three-conveyor transport system. Further plans include the installation of a repair facility for equipment and other auxiliary structures.

  • Vokshod Chrome Fined Over 2.9 Billion Tenge for Environmental Violations

    Vokshod Chrome Fined Over 2.9 Billion Tenge for Environmental Violations

    The Atyrau Regional Prosecutor’s Office has fined Vokshod Chrome more than 2.9 billion tenge after the company failed to obtain the mandatory environmental permit for its operations in 2022. According to environmental authorities, all of Vokshod Chrome’s emissions for the year were deemed illegal or excessive. In 2022, the company emitted over 52 tonnes of magnesium oxide, trivalent chromium, and inorganic dust.

    In addition to air emissions, Vokshod Chrome accumulated significant industrial waste. Over the year, the company gathered 395,000 tonnes of large-particle and slurry waste from mineral processing on its premises.

    The company attempted to appeal the administrative penalty, but the regional court upheld the decision, ruling that the fine was justified.

    According to public sources, Vokshod Chrome mines and processes chromite ore in the Khromtau district of the Aktobe region. The company supplies chromite ore and concentrates to both domestic and international markets. In 2013, it was acquired by the Turkish holding Yilmaden.

     

  • Qazaq Kaolin to Launch New Plant at Alekseevskoye Kaolin Deposit in 2026

    Qazaq Kaolin to Launch New Plant at Alekseevskoye Kaolin Deposit in 2026

    n 2026, Qazaq Kaolin plans to launch a new facility at the Alekseevskoye kaolin deposit, located in the Zerenda district of Akmola region. The construction plan for the processing plant has been submitted for review on Kazakhstan’s Unified Environmental Portal.

    The Alekseevskoye deposit once hosted a mining and processing complex during the Soviet era, producing 200,000 tonnes of enriched kaolin annually until operations ceased in 1996. In 2016, Qazaq Kaolin decided to revive production at the site, with the project now included in the regional industrialization map of Akmola. The new initiative involves not only kaolin ore processing but also the creation of a technological cluster. The cluster will focus on producing ceramic products and sheet glass.

    The new factory will have an annual production capacity of 90,000 tonnes of enriched kaolin. Additionally, it will produce up to 91,440 tonnes of quartz sand and 2,160 tonnes of slip.

    According to the project documentation, kaolin from the Alekseevskoye deposit consists primarily of high-alumina, low-iron raw material, meeting the standards required by industries using premium-grade kaolin.