Kazakhstan develops strategy for processing technogenic-mineral formations

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 26. Minister of Industry and Construction of Kazakhstan, Yersayin Nagaspayev, delivered a report at a government meeting on the management of municipal and industrial waste, Trend reports.

The minister noted that Kazakhstan has approximately 1,747 technogenic-mineral formations (TMF) registered, with a total mass of 55 billion tons.

"Currently, within the framework of the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of the Rare and Rare-Earth Metals Industry, a roadmap for TMF revision has been developed, and inventory work has begun. This will help assess the condition of TMF, identify priority areas for processing, and attract investment for environmental projects," underscored Nagaspayev.

The minister also highlighted that in the next 2 years, four more projects are planned, with total investments of 37 billion tenge (approximately $78 million). Additionally, according to him, 25 projects for the secondary processing of industrial waste, with a total value of 330 billion tenge (approximately $693 million), are currently being implemented. Eight projects, worth 133 billion tenge (approximately $277 million), have already been launched. Furthermore, seven new projects, valued at 110 billion tenge (approximately $230 million), are set to be launched this year.

The projects in the pipeline will lay the groundwork for sprucing up the environment and boosting the industry's bottom line.

"To address the issues with accumulated TMF near populated areas, work is being done to introduce amendments to the legislation that will allow for their removal and processing outside of populated areas. This is especially important for mono-cities, where there are environmental issues," the minister concluded.

The ministry will also explore the introduction of a special simplified license for TMF processing. The proposed measures will improve the environmental situation and also involve new raw material sources in production.

The recycling rate of TMF in Kazakhstan is about 11 percent, while in developed countries, it reaches 70-80 percent. This includes the use of depleted deposits and enrichment tailings from copper, gold, iron, and other metal mining. The largest volumes of TMF are located in the Pavlodar, Karaganda, and Kostanay regions of Kazakhstan.