Kazakhstan Uncovers Major Rare Earth Metals Deposit

Kazakhstan could be on the verge of becoming a global leader in strategic raw materials following the discovery of a massive rare earth metals deposit in the Qaraganda region. However, without domestic processing capabilities, the country risks remaining a supplier of raw materials rather than moving up the value chain, Orda.kz reports.

Geologists from Tsentrgeolsyomka LLP recently identified a significant deposit in the Kuirektykol area. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the site contains tens of millions of tons of rare earth elements, with concentrations high enough to support future industrial development.

Two highly promising zones—named Irgiz and Dos 2—were discovered between 2022 and 2024. Some areas showed concentrations of up to 0.25%, which is considered quite high in this field. The Irgiz zone, in particular, is estimated to hold up to 800,000 tons of rare earth metals.

The identified rare earth deposits and promising areas, if further confirmed, could position Kazakhstan as a global leader in rare earth element reserves and enable the rapid development of a high-tech rare earth metals industry,the Ministry of Industry and Construction stated. 

Earlier, we wrote that fully realizing this potential will take years and require substantial investment.

Currently, Kazakhstan lacks the technology for deep processing of rare earth metals, making it reliant on foreign partners. As government officials have previously stated, the country is looking to cooperate with investors from the U.S., EU, South Korea, and Canada.

Kazakhstan has at least 15 known rare earth deposits, and its subsoil may hold resources valued at up to $46 trillion. Analysts believe the country has the potential to rival China, which currently dominates around 70% of global production.

However, to achieve this, Kazakhstan will need more than just investment — it will also require major reforms in subsoil use, access to cutting-edge technologies, and the development of its own processing infrastructure.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov