U.S. Seeks Partnership with Kazakhstan to Develop Tungsten Deposits

U.S. Seeks Partnership with Kazakhstan to Develop Tungsten Deposits

The United States has shown interest in Kazakhstan’s tungsten reserves as part of efforts to reduce its dependence on China, Orda.kz reports, citing Bloomberg.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick is leading talks between the American company Cove Kaz Capital and Kazakhstan’s Samruq-Qazyna fund to establish a joint venture for the development of two of Central Asia’s largest tungsten deposits.

The metal is considered strategic by the Pentagon, as it is used in the production of shells, armor, and specialized equipment.

The talks concern the Verkhne-Kairatinskoye and North Katpara deposits. Their value is estimated in the billions of dollars. Cove Kaz Capital wants not only to mine but also to process the metal in Kazakhstan and only then supply it to the United States.

Washington is reportedly considering financing the project through state-backed entities, though it does not plan to take a direct equity stake in the company. Such support would help strengthen U.S. competition with China, which is also seeking involvement in the project and is ready to offer more favorable terms.

The initiative aligns with President Trump’s geopolitical strategy to reduce U.S. reliance on China for rare and critical minerals. Lutnick — who previously helped broker a major deal between Wabtec and Kazakhstan Railways — has personally taken part in the tungsten negotiations, marking a rare instance of direct involvement by a U.S. Commerce Secretary in a project linked to a foreign sovereign wealth fund.

Just a week earlier, National Economy Minister Serik Zhumangarin met with American business leaders in Washington.

According to the ministry’s press service, Zhumangarin presented Kazakhstan’s investment and economic potential at a roundtable hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Business Council, though no specific agreements were reached.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov