A project is being implemented as part of a partnership between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom in the field of critical minerals. British companies are negotiating supply contracts with Kazakhstani manufacturers of tungsten products. Contacts have been established with six brokers from the UK and three end users of the products.
The event, organized by the British Critical Minerals Association, brought together more than 300 representatives from the mining industry, experts, consultants, diplomats and officials from interested countries. The collaboration between Kazakhstan and the UK in this area is considered one of the most promising.
According to Gavin Mudd, Head of the Mining Department at the UK Department of Business and Trade, joint efforts have already delivered notable results. In March 2023, the partners signed a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals, and a year later, a partnership roadmap in this field was agreed upon.
Critical minerals include metals and rare elements used in modern technologies, playing a key role in ensuring national security and economic development.
Since the signing of the memorandum, the British Embassy in Kazakhstan has facilitated deals worth GBP 5.4 million (approximately $7 million) and strengthened business, political, and educational ties. These initiatives are expected to generate benefits for the UK amounting to GBP 100 million (approximately $126.6 million) over the next five years.
A significant step has been the collaboration between the British side and Kazakhstani producers of tungsten products. Connections have already been established with six British brokers and three end consumers, enabling negotiations on supply contracts to begin.
Additionally, a partnership between the British Geological Survey and the National Geological Survey of Kazakhstan will enable the digitization of geological data. This is expected to make British companies’ investment decisions more informed and reduce associated risks.
According to the latest assessment by the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre, published last week, the list of critical minerals has significantly expanded this year – from 18 to 34 items. New additions include aluminum, germanium, iron, iridium, magnesite, manganese, nickel, sodium, rhenium, titanium, zinc and others.
This expansion reflects the growing challenges in maintaining the resilience of supply chains for these critical materials. Therefore, the UK’s primary goal is to achieve a balance between the increasing demand for mineral resources and ensuring their reliable and stable supply.
“This assessment confirms that the growing diversification of the UK economy – along with increasing reliance on global trade – leads to heightened vulnerability to disruptions in the supply of critical minerals,” says Gavin Mudd.
According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Construction, whose representative spoke at one of the conference’s side events, Kazakhstan was home to 9,000 deposits of 103 types of minerals. These include vanadium, tungsten, cobalt, lithium, molybdenum, niobium, nickel, tin, tantalum, titanium and others. The country ranks 11th globally in nickel reserves, with over 2 million tons.
One in every five aircraft worldwide is equipped with fuselages made from Kazakh titanium, and jet engines utilize Kazakh rhenium. Beryllium produced by the Ulba Metallurgical Plant is used in satellites and nuclear energy. Representatives of this enterprise also used the London conference platform to establish business connections with international partners.
Recently, Kazakhstan has captured about 5% of the global market for high-purity manganese sulfate, a key component in lithium-ion batteries. Future plans include doubling production of this material and launching the production of nickel- and cobalt-based cathode components in the medium term.
Kazakhstan places significant emphasis on developing resource processing within the country, increasing the value of its raw materials. While foreign companies retain the right to freely export extracted resources, the presence of local production facilities provides an opportunity to process raw materials domestically. This approach aligns with the country’s long-term interests and goals.
Summarizing the interim results of the Kazakhstan-UK partnership, Kazakhstan is steadily strengthening its role as a reliable UK partner in critical minerals. With substantial natural resources and a commitment to expanding its processing capacities, the country is unlocking unique opportunities in the global market.
Between 2025 and 2026, Kazakhstan plans to establish modern facilities with foreign participation, focusing on advanced raw material processing. If British partners demonstrate sufficient flexibility and interest, their involvement could become a key part of this success story. The implementation of such initiatives promises not only to strengthen collaboration but also to lay a solid foundation for long-term development. (Kazinform)
