Kazakhstan Positions Itself as a Key Critical Minerals Partner

Kazakhstan is entering a new phase of its economic transformation as the country increasingly positions itself at the center of global critical mineral supply chains. Against the backdrop of declining hydrocarbon revenues, Astana is accelerating institutional reforms, attracting Western and Asian investors, and deepening its integration into the emerging architecture of strategic raw materials cooperation.

These developments will take center stage during the 16th International “Astana Mining & Metallurgy” Congress (AMM-2026), scheduled for 11–12 June 2026 at the Hilton Astana. The annual congress, already considered one of Eurasia’s leading mining and metallurgical forums, is expected to become a major platform for institutional formalization of Kazakhstan’s new mining strategy.

The event comes at a moment when global competition for critical minerals — including rare earth elements, gallium, tungsten, lithium-related materials, and battery components — is intensifying amid the energy transition and technological decoupling between major powers.

From Hydrocarbon Dependence to Critical Minerals

The macroeconomic context explains the urgency behind Kazakhstan’s strategic pivot.

According to Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics, mining production declined by 11.4% year-on-year during the first quarter of 2026. Oil extraction fell by nearly 20%, partly due to technical disruptions at the Tengiz field, while natural gas production also contracted significantly. Other solid mineral sectors recorded declines exceeding 15%.

International financial institutions increasingly warn that Kazakhstan’s traditional resource model — heavily dependent on Soviet-era geological discoveries — is approaching structural limits. The World Bank has noted that the country’s legacy resource base is gradually exhausting its monetization potential, while a sufficiently large portfolio of new greenfield exploration projects has not yet fully emerged.

In this context, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has repeatedly identified critical minerals and rare earth elements as the foundation of Kazakhstan’s next export cycle. The strategic logic is clear: as global demand for clean technologies accelerates, countries capable of supplying critical raw materials will gain growing geopolitical and economic importance.

Institutional Reform and the CRIRSCO Transition

A central component of Kazakhstan’s mining transformation lies in institutional modernization.

In spring 2026, the government of Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov launched a new digital investment platform designed as a unified “single window” for subsoil users. Artificial intelligence tools integrated into the platform are intended to identify procedural bottlenecks and improve transparency in licensing procedures.

The broader objective is to move away from discretionary Soviet-style administrative allocation toward a transparent “first come, first served” licensing system with full digital traceability.

At the same time, Kazakhstan is aligning its mining sector with international reporting standards.

The Kazakhstan Public Reporting Code (KAZRC) recently received official recognition from the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO). This development carries major significance for international investors and financial institutions.

Without CRIRSCO-compliant reporting standards — such as JORC or NI 43-101 — mining companies face major difficulties in preparing bankable feasibility studies and accessing syndicated lending, project financing, or listings on major exchanges such as the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The reform therefore represents more than a technical adjustment. It signals Kazakhstan’s adoption of the institutional language of global mining finance and its gradual transition away from the Soviet-era State Reserves Commission model.

The importance of this shift will be reflected at AMM-2026 itself. Among the high-profile participants expected are Garth Kirkham, Chairman of CRIRSCO, and Dean McPherson, Global Head of Mining at the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The East Asian Vector

Alongside growing cooperation with Europe and North America, Kazakhstan is also strengthening its East Asian connectivity strategy.

One of the defining features of Kazakhstan’s partnerships with Japan and South Korea is the emphasis on downstream processing rather than simple raw concentrate exports.

A notable example is the agreement signed between Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) and Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation for the annual supply of gallium beginning in 2026. Gallium is considered essential for semiconductors, advanced telecommunications equipment, and future 5G and 6G technologies.

Japanese institutions are also supporting project preparation and exploration activities through targeted grants.

Meanwhile, cooperation with South Korea has expanded significantly. A major financial package worth approximately one billion dollars has been formed with participation from the Asian Development Bank. Korea Eximbank and K-SURE have signed memoranda supporting supply chains related to lithium-ion batteries and solar panel production.

The United Kingdom is likewise contributing grants for early-stage geological exploration and engineering studies — traditionally among the riskiest and most capital-intensive phases of mining development.

Kazakhstan’s authorities are simultaneously prioritizing deeper localization of value-added production. According to Industry and Construction Minister Yersayin Nagaspayev, the country plans to launch new production lines for refined antimony, technical selenium, and high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate in 2026.

Importantly, these products are expected to be supplied directly to global electronics and battery manufacturers rather than traditional commodity traders.

This approach reflects Kazakhstan’s broader middle-power strategy: diversifying external partnerships while reducing excessive dependence on any single geopolitical direction.

AMM-2026: A Strategic Mining Platform

Against this backdrop, AMM-2026 is expected to serve not merely as an industry congress, but as a geopolitical and institutional platform reflecting Kazakhstan’s evolving role within global supply chains.

The list of participants illustrates the scale of international attention surrounding the country’s mining sector.

Among the prominent corporate figures expected are Robert Friedland of Ivanhoe Mines and Ivanhoe Electric — widely known for discoveries such as Oyu Tolgoi and Kamoa-Kakula — as well as Mark Cutifani of Vale Base Metals and former CEO of Anglo American.

The diplomatic dimension will also be significant. Participants are expected to include U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie Stufft, European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) Director Massimo Gasparon, and Rare Earth Industry Association (REIA) President Badrinath Veluri.

Leading global companies and institutions — including NFC, Molymet, Hatch, Boston Consulting Group, SAP, CRIRSCO, and the Toronto Stock Exchange — are likewise expected to participate.

The presence of these actors reflects a broader reality increasingly visible across Eurasia: Kazakhstan is no longer viewed solely as a traditional hydrocarbon producer, but as a strategic partner in the emerging global architecture of critical minerals, industrial resilience, and green transition supply chains.

A New Strategic Role for Kazakhstan

As geopolitical fragmentation reshapes global trade routes and industrial policy, critical minerals are becoming a defining element of international competition.

For Kazakhstan, this transition offers both opportunity and pressure. The country must simultaneously modernize institutions, attract technology and financing, diversify partnerships, and move up the value chain.

As geopolitical competition increasingly shifts toward supply chains, industrial resilience, and access to strategic resources, Kazakhstan is seeking to secure a stronger position within the global critical minerals market. The country is accelerating institutional reforms, expanding cooperation with Western and Asian partners, and moving toward higher levels of mineral processing and industrial integration.

In this context, AMM-2026 in Astana represents more than an annual mining forum. The congress is expected to become a major platform where international investors, financial institutions, mining corporations, and policymakers will discuss Kazakhstan’s growing role in global supply chains, new financing mechanisms, geological exploration, downstream production, and long-term resource partnerships. The presence of leading figures from CRIRSCO, the Toronto Stock Exchange, major mining companies, and international diplomatic institutions reflects the increasing international interest in Kazakhstan’s mining sector and its strategic mineral potential.