Kazakhstan May Transfer Rare Earth Metal Deposits to Tau-Ken Samruq - Times Of Central Asia

Kazakhstan may transfer several newly discovered rare earth metal deposits to the national mining company Tau-Ken Samruq, Orda.kz reports, citing The Times of Central Asia.

Chair of the Geology Committee, Yerlan Akbarov, told journalists that rare earth deposits could be added to Tau-Ken Samruq's balance sheet. According to him, the government began geological exploration at 12 sites in 2021, with work already completed at ten. Previously unknown deposits of 17 rare earth elements, including tantalum, lithium, and niobium, have been discovered in Kazakhstan.

The largest of these is the Kuirektykol deposit in the Qaraganda region. According to Akbarov, recoverable reserves there reach one million tons, while total reserves are estimated at 20 million tons.

Geological exploration at Kuirektykol was conducted between 2022 and 2024. Two other promising sites are in the east of the country, three in the south, and three in the north.

We have completed exploration and evaluation at these sites, and specific investors will continue the development. One of the options under consideration is transferring these sites to Tau-Ken Samruq,said  Akbarov. 

He added that the possibility of joint development of lithium deposits in eastern Kazakhstan by Tau-Ken Samruq and Korean investor KIGAM is also being considered.

Tau-Ken Samruq is a national mining company founded in 2009 and operates under the National Welfare Fund Samruq-Qazyna. It partners with Glencore International and holds a 29.82% stake in Kazzinc LLP.

Kazakhstan currently produces 19 of the 34 rare and rare earth elements, including beryllium, tantalum, niobium, and rhenium. More than 100 deposits have reportedly been identified across the country.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny