Photo: Press Service of Akorda
On the sidelines of the Central Asia–European Union Summit in Samarkand, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the discovery of a major rare earth metals deposit, according to a statement from Akorda.
The deposit is located in the Zhana Kazakhstan area of Karkaraly District in the Karaganda Region, just 300 kilometers from Astana. The discovery was recently announced by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry.
“Preliminary estimates suggest the area contains over 20 million metric tons of rare earth metals to a depth of 300 meters, with an average concentration of around 700 grams per ton,” the ministry reported.
Officials emphasized that this type of rare earth mineralization has no known analogues in Kazakhstan, classifying it as a new industrial category.
Previously, the Kazakh government had announced plans to attract approximately 12 billion tenge (around $23.7 million) in investment to develop rare earth metal deposits. The most strategically important elements for the country include cobalt, tungsten, lithium, and other metals used in the production of batteries, accumulators, and magnets.
During the summit, President Tokayev proposed the establishment of a Regional Research Center for Rare Earth Metals in Astana. The center would serve as a hub of up-to-date information for companies and investors on available deposits, technologies, and development strategies.
