Latecomer Kazakhstan races into global rare earth metals arena

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Long viewed as a country with vast but underused rare earth metals potential, Kazakhstan is now moving quickly to position itself as a major player in global critical mineral supply chains.

Kazakhstan, which ranks among the world’s leaders in proven rare earth reserves, has shifted from primarily exporting raw materials to developing a full industrial cycle. The change comes as competition intensifies among major powers for access to resources essential for high-tech manufacturing.

The state-owned mining company Tau-Ken Samruk is driving the country’s rare earth ambitions at home and abroad. Officials recently announced the discovery of a major deposit containing cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and yttrium — minerals considered vital for electronics, renewable energy and advanced defense systems.

More than 100 rare and rare earth element deposits have been identified across Kazakhstan, including Kurumsak, Bala-Sauskandyk, Akbulak, Kundybay and Verkhnee-Espe. The country currently produces 19 of the 34 known rare earth elements.

Kazakhstan’s advantages — large reserves, strategic geography, relative political stability and a push toward high-value processing — are helping it emerge as an alternative to China, which has long dominated the global rare earth market. That shift comes as diversification efforts by the United States, European Union, Japan and South Korea advance slowly.

A recent example of Kazakhstan’s rising profile is the renewed interest in the Severny Katpar and Verkhniy Kairakty tungsten deposits. China’s Xiamen Tungsten explored a deal in 2018 but withdrew before signing binding agreements.

This year, Tau-Ken Samruk reached an agreement with U.S.-based Cove Capital to develop the same sites — a development analysts say reflects growing geopolitical competition.

Nurlan Zhakupov, chairman of the Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund, said Kazakhstan intends to process materials not only from domestic deposits but also from partners abroad. Tau-Ken Samruk has begun geological exploration in Rwanda and Afghanistan.

“Tau-Ken Samruk is actively engaging with foreign partners,” Zhakupov said. “We’ve signed an agreement with a Rwandan government agency and identified five target areas.”

Rwanda is emerging as a notable source of rare earths, with companies such as Rainbow Rare Earths operating nearby in Burundi. Kazakhstan’s exploration aims to secure additional feedstock for its domestic processing plants. Collaboration with Rwanda includes discussions on potential beryllium supplies for Kazatomprom.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, during a recent visit to Kazakhstan, expressed interest in Kazakhstani technologies in mining and energy, though security risks remain high. Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a fragile peace deal only in June, reportedly backed by U.S. efforts to secure access to minerals such as coltan and cobalt.

Afghanistan is another focus area, with significant reserves of rare earths, lithium and copper. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates Afghanistan’s mineral wealth at $1 trillion to $3 trillion, with rare earth reserves alone at roughly 1.4 million tons. But political instability and poor infrastructure hamper development.

“We are also working in Afghanistan,” Zhakupov said. “We’ve taken samples from two areas with promising results. While extraction is not yet under discussion, we’re speaking with potential partners on licensing.”

Kazakhstan may face competition from Russia, which has signaled interest in Afghan rare earths, and from previous U.S. efforts to develop the sector before the Taliban takeover stalled talks.

Despite the risks, analysts say Kazakhstan is likely to push ahead with a long-term strategy to integrate exploration, processing and foreign partnerships, aiming to cement its position in the global rare earth industry.