Photo: Ruslan Pryanikov/AFP
Eurasia
13/04/2025 08:00
Kazakhstan has announced the discovery of a significant rare earth elements (REE) deposit in the Karagandy region, potentially positioning the country among the world’s top three in REE reserves. Dubbed "New Kazakhstan," the site is estimated to contain up to 20 million tonnes of reserves, with nearly 1 million tonnes of key elements such as cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and yttrium — crucial components in modern technologies like smartphones and renewable energy systems.
The announcement came just before the EU–Central Asia Summit in Uzbekistan, a move analysts view as strategically timed to boost Kazakhstan's profile as a key partner in critical raw materials. The EU responded by endorsing a new Roadmap for 2025–2026, focused on enhanced cooperation in geological exploration and innovation with Kazakhstan.
Despite the excitement, experts stress that the deposit is still in the early stages of development. Georgiy Freiman of the Professional Association of Independent Mining Experts (PONEN) cautioned that full mineral assessments, feasibility studies, and economic models are needed before confirming the site's viability. The deposit’s depth of 300 meters and rare earth content of 700 grams per tonne also present technical challenges.
Exploration of the site began in 2022, with initial findings reported in 2024. The company responsible estimates that developing the site could take up to six years and require an investment of $10 million. Full extraction may not begin for another 10 to 12 years, according to Arthur Poliakov of the MINEX Forum.
Kazakhstan currently lacks the necessary technologies for deep processing of REEs and will likely require foreign investment and expertise. China is expected to play a major role due to its dominance in rare earth processing, while the EU is also seen as a key player given its focus on green technologies. However, logistical hurdles remain, especially the need to develop the Middle Corridor to improve connectivity between Kazakhstan and Europe.
