Yerzhan Kazkhan, Kazakhstan's Ambassador to the United States, called for U.S.-Kazakhstan cooperation on critical mineral projects during the Astana Mining and Metallurgy Conference.
On June 11, Yerzhan Kazkhan, Kazakhstan’s Presidential Representative to the United States, delivered opening remarks at a U.S.-Kazakhstan roundtable held during the Astana Mining and Metallurgy Conference, urging the transformation of their expanding bilateral relations into tangible critical mineral projects. The roundtable brought together U.S. officials, American companies, and Kazakh counterparts to discuss practical measures for advancing projects in the critical minerals sector. His address emphasized converting the U.S.-Kazakhstan mineral agenda into concrete projects, investments, offtake agreements, processing capabilities, and more resilient supply chains.
Kazkhan placed this discussion within the broader context of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s efforts to deepen U.S.-Kazakhstan ties in energy, supply chain security, investment, and critical minerals. According to his speech, he referenced the meeting between Tokayev and U.S. President Donald J. Trump on November 6, describing it as an effort to “unlock” the vast potential of the bilateral relationship, which the U.S. Department of State referred to as a “new era.” Kazkhan stated: “The strategic consensus reached by our leaders fully aligns with the national interests of both countries.” He highlighted that this consensus includes support for energy security, supply chain resilience, and a “shared commitment to strengthen cooperation in energy, rare earths, and other critical minerals.” He stressed that this agenda has moved beyond diplomacy. Kazkhan said: “These priorities are not empty rhetoric—they are being advanced through actionable partnerships aimed at enhancing industrial capacity, accelerating technological development, and supporting emerging fields such as artificial intelligence.”
In light of the U.S. and its allies seeking alternatives to centralized supply chains used in defense, energy, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies, Kazkhan positioned Kazakhstan as a strategic partner for Washington. He said: “Kazakhstan possesses unique advantages that enable it to become a strategic partner for the United States, strengthening its resilience and competitiveness.” He described Kazakhstan as a “reliable and important supplier,” a “middle power with regional influence, a diversified industrial base, and ranked among the top 50 largest economies in the world.”
He also pointed out Kazakhstan’s abundant mineral resources, noting that the country holds reserves of tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, nickel, cobalt, and lithium—among the top ten globally—as well as significant deposits of other critical elements. Kazakhstan is the world’s largest producer of uranium, accounting for approximately 40% of global output and over 20% of U.S. imports of natural uranium. Kazkhan asserted that Kazakhstan’s core argument is that it should not be viewed merely as a raw material source. He emphasized that sustainable supply chain security requires processing, refining, and integration into higher-value industrial stages. “Just mining is not enough,” he said. “True supply chain security requires processing, refining, and downstream integration.” He added that Kazakhstan is “not a land waiting to be developed,” citing its skilled industrial workforce, established producers, strong export track record, and institutional capacity for long-term resource projects. Kazkhan also linked the mineral agenda to transportation and logistics.
He noted that Kazakhstan has been strengthening access to the Caspian Sea and expanding connectivity through the Trans-Caspian Corridor and broader East-West Corridors, thereby securing pathways for delivering goods to U.S. and allied markets. “These factors collectively position Kazakhstan as a long-term, reliable, and resource-rich partner committed to providing stable and predictable supplies to the United States,” he said.
The speech was directed at American business leaders, many of whom are already familiar with Kazakhstan through large-scale energy investments. Citing Chevron and ExxonMobil as examples, Kazkhan noted that these two U.S. companies have operated in Kazakhstan for nearly four decades, demonstrating the country’s ability to support complex, capital-intensive projects across market cycles. He also mentioned that Kazakhstan’s mining sector has attracted companies including Ivanhoe Mines, Rio Tinto Group, Anglo American, Fortescue, Kov Capital, and Alrosa. For investors, Kazkhan emphasized the strengths of Kazakhstan’s financing and legal infrastructure.
He stated that Kazakhstan maintains access to international capital markets, collaborates with development financial institutions, and can structure sovereign, quasi-sovereign, and corporate financing for large-scale resource and infrastructure projects. He also highlighted the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which offers Western investors a familiar legal and regulatory framework. “Thus, Kazakhstan’s projects are able to meet international competitive standards,” he said. “We are committed to upholding compliance standards and maintaining competitiveness amid regulatory changes, market cycles, and geopolitical pressures.”
Kazkhan also clarified that Kazakhstan is prepared to support more than just exploration or mining licenses. “We can deliver quickly, reliably, and at scale,” he said. “We are ready to support offtake agreements, price stabilization mechanisms, and joint investment programs that strengthen independent and resilient supply chains.”
In his closing remarks, Kazkhan described the roundtable as “a moment of both opportunity and strategic responsibility,” stating that deeper cooperation between the U.S. and Kazakhstan in critical minerals will help secure the resource foundation for both nations’ economies while solidifying the next generation of bilateral partnership. The roundtable’s working discussions focused on how to translate this agenda into specific projects.
For Kazakhstan, the message is clear: the Tokayev government aims to shift the relationship with Washington in the critical minerals domain from strategic coordination to collaboration in financing, offtake, processing capabilities, and transport routes. For the U.S., the roundtable provided deeper insight into Kazakhstan’s efforts. The country is not only positioning itself as a mineral supplier but also as a long-term industrial partner in building robust supply chains.
Source: Central Asia Times
Original: toutiao.com/article/1867755942590476/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.