ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 21. Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting on the development of the rare and rare-earth metals industry, during which he emphasized the need to modernize existing production facilities and infrastructure, as well as to expand geological exploration efforts, Trend reports via the press service of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, it was noted that large-scale geological
exploration is underway in Kazakhstan: studies are being conducted
on 25 sites at a 1:50,000 scale, covering a total area of 100,000
square kilometers.
In 2024, 38 promising solid mineral deposits were discovered. By
2025, geological and geophysical coverage of the country will reach
2.038 million square kilometers, and by 2026, it is expected to
grow to 2.2 million square kilometers.
"Currently, Kazakhstan produces beryllium, tantalum, niobium, scandium, titanium, rhenium, and osmium, and also extracts bismuth, antimony, selenium, and tellurium as by-products. In addition, technologies exist for the extraction of gallium and indium," the report states.
Overall, the government is taking steps to further develop the sector. A comprehensive plan for 2024–2028 is being implemented. Funds have been allocated for the modernization of the rare metals workshop at the state enterprise "Zhezkazganredmet." To attract investors, access to geological data, including that on rare and rare-earth metals, has been ensured.
Following the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed authorities to focus efforts on in-depth subsurface studies, accelerating the registration and inclusion of man-made mineral formations in the state mineral balance, developing battery material production and recycling, and actively producing heat-resistant nickel alloys.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Construction, the production of rare and rare-earth metals accounts for 2.4 percent of Kazakhstan's metallurgy sector. Since 2018, the state has invested 67 billion tenge ($127.3 million) in the industry.
The development of rare and rare-earth metal production is of critical importance to modern industry. According to 2024 data, the global market for this type of raw material totaled 1.6 million tons, with average annual demand growth in 2023 - 2024 reaching 30 percent.
