Key Minerals in Kazakhstan: After Mongolia, South Korea and Kazakhstan to Establish Rare Metal Research Center in Almaty
Kazakhstan and South Korea will jointly establish a research and technology center in Almaty to support the development of Kazakhstan’s rare metals and critical mineral industries.
The Kazakhstan-South Korea Center for Rare and Rare Earth Metals will be located at Satbayev University, established through collaboration between Kazakhstan, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, and the National Institute of Rare Metals of South Korea.
During a meeting on July 9, representatives from the three parties discussed the implementation plan for the project, reviewed the procurement of modern laboratory equipment, and examined long-term scientific and technological cooperation.
The center will cultivate specialized talent for Kazakhstan’s rapidly growing rare metal industry and provide local researchers with access to state-of-the-art analytical and processing equipment. Additionally, the center will support joint research initiatives with international partners.
"The combined research strength of Kazakhstan and South Korea will drive the application of modernized technologies in strategic raw material processing, expand scientific research, and train world-class professionals," said Melam Bekentayev, Rector of Satbayev University.
According to the university, this facility will become Kazakhstan’s first full-cycle technological platform dedicated to research, testing, and commercialization of environmentally friendly, high-purity and ultra-high-purity rare and rare earth metal production technologies.
The center will also conduct fundamental and applied research and pilot new technologies for mineral and industrial raw material processing.
This project is part of Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to become a major supplier of critical minerals. Demand for rare metals continues to grow among electric vehicle manufacturers and renewable energy companies, while semiconductor and defense industries are also increasing their demand for these materials.
On June 10, Yersin Nurgaspaev, Minister of Industry and Construction of Kazakhstan, delivered a speech at the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue held in Astana, emphasizing that critical minerals are a strategic priority in Kazakhstan’s industrial policy and long-term economic development.
He noted that Kazakhstan possesses over 9,500 mineral deposits, including more than 100 rare metals and rare earth element deposits.
Nurgaspaev previously stated that Kazakhstan has the capacity to supply 19 out of the 50 critical raw materials identified by the United States, and 21 out of the 34 minerals listed as critical by the European Union—positioning Kazakhstan as an increasingly important player in global supply chains.
Kazakhstan already produces various strategic materials, including beryllium, titanium, tantalum, niobium, rhenium, antimony, bismuth, selenium, and tellurium—materials that serve both as base metals and components for advanced industrial applications.
Source: Central Asia Times
Author: Sergey Kwan
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870410250815556/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.