Kazakhstan to Invest Nearly $470 Million in Geological Exploration Between 2026 and 2028
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Kazakhstan will allocate approximately $470 million in state funding for geological exploration between 2026 and 2028, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said, noting that the planned investment is comparable to the total amount spent on the sector over the previous two decades.
According to Bektenov, geological exploration plays a crucial role in expanding the country's mineral resource base and creating conditions for future mining and processing projects with high added value.
Kazakhstan is implementing a large-scale programme for the geological study of its subsoil resources. Detailed geological mapping of the country's territory has already begun. The area covered by geological surveys is expected to exceed 2 million square kilometres. Under the President's instructions, the state alone will invest around $470 million in geological exploration during 2026-2028," Bektenov said.
He stressed that the strategic objective is not only to improve knowledge of the country's mineral resources, but also to build a modern geological industry based on digital technologies and international partnerships. According to the prime minister, new geological discoveries should serve as the foundation for future projects in mining and the production of higher-value-added goods.
Bektenov also highlighted the importance of digitalisation within the sector. He noted that the introduction of artificial intelligence and big data analytics is becoming a key driver of development for the mining and metallurgical industry.
Kazakhstan currently operates a unified subsoil use platform through which 22 government services are provided. Licensing procedures and the monitoring of subsoil users' obligations have also been automated, while more than 4.6 million units of geological information have already been digitised.
The next stage should be the integration of artificial intelligence technologies into geological exploration, data analysis, and production management processes. This will improve the efficiency of developing the country's mineral resource base, accelerate the discovery of new deposits, and enhance the quality of decision-making," Bektenov said.
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Kazakhstan Supplies One-Fifth of the Global Aerospace Titanium Market
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Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Sylvain Geler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium and Magnesium Plant (UKTMP), discussed the company's development, the implementation of investment projects, and efforts to strengthen Kazakhstan's position in the global titanium market, the government's press service said.
Particular attention was given to UKTMP's investment programme through 2033, which includes 25 projects with a total value of KZT 255.5 billion. Among them is the construction of a new titanium sponge production facility, which is expected to increase annual production capacity by 10,000 tonnes.
The programme also предусматривает the modernisation of gas-cleaning equipment, the introduction of a unified Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and the launch of an artificial intelligence-based platform for analysing production processes, energy consumption, and industrial safety.
The parties also discussed securing raw material supplies for the plant, expanding international cooperation, preserving export potential, and enhancing the competitiveness of Kazakhstan's titanium products in global markets.
UKTMP is among the world's largest vertically integrated titanium producers, operating a full production cycle from raw material extraction to finished products.
In 2025, the company sold approximately 12,000 tonnes of titanium worth KZT 87 billion. Production of titanium ingots and alloys is expected to increase by 7% this year.
The plant's products are used in the aerospace, petrochemical, and nuclear industries, as well as in medicine and shipbuilding. Kazakhstan accounts for around 20% of the global aerospace titanium market.
Among the company's customers and partners are major international corporations, including Boeing, Airbus, Safran, and Rolls-Royce.
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Kazakhstan Increases Grain and Flour Exports to 12.2 Million Tonnes
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Kazakhstan exported 12.2 million tonnes of grain and flour in grain equivalent between September 2025 and May 2026, a 13% increase compared with the same period of the previous marketing season, the Ministry of Agriculture said, citing data from the national railway operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy.
The growth in exports was driven primarily by Kazakhstan's traditional markets in Central Asia and Afghanistan. Exports to Uzbekistan rose by 38%, increasing from 3.6 million tonnes to 5 million tonnes. Shipments to Kyrgyzstan grew by 50%, from 312,000 tonnes to 474,000 tonnes, while exports to Afghanistan surged by 58%, rising from 1.3 million tonnes to 2 million tonnes.
Exports to Turkmenistan reached 197,000 tonnes, up 44% from 137,000 tonnes during the corresponding period a year earlier.
The Ministry of Agriculture said the positive trend in freight transportation reflects strong demand for Kazakh agricultural products and the stable operation of logistics corridors serving southern export routes.
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Central Asian Countries and the United States Discuss Cooperation on Critical Minerals
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The C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue was held in Astana under the co-chairmanship of Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction, Yersayin Nagaspayev, and the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor.
The parties discussed cooperation in geological exploration, mining, processing, and the supply of critical minerals to global markets.
The C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue is aimed at deepening cooperation in the sustainable supply of strategic raw materials, advancing technological collaboration, and building reliable global supply chains. Against the backdrop of growing global demand for critical minerals, these areas are becoming increasingly important," Nagaspayev said.
He noted that Kazakhstan is home to more than 9,500 mineral deposits, over 100 of which contain rare and rare-earth metals. The minister emphasized that the sector’s digitalization and the adoption of international standards have helped attract major international companies to the country, including Rio Tinto, Barrick Gold, First Quantum, Ivanhoe, Teck, Fortescue, and Cove Capital.
Participants also discussed the development of raw material processing, the creation of industrial clusters, technology transfer, workforce training, scientific and technical cooperation, and the expansion of logistics infrastructure.
At the conclusion of the dialogue, the parties reaffirmed their interest in implementing joint industrial and infrastructure projects.
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East Kazakhstan Lithium Deposit Development: Project Progress Update
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Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of Industry and Construction, Iran Sharkhan, has provided an update on the development of the Bakennoye lithium deposit in East Kazakhstan Region on the sidelines of the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue.
Work is currently underway to register the project with the state authorities. These processes are undergoing the necessary approvals. The next stage will involve addressing issues related to the processing and development of the deposit," the vice minister was quoted as saying by Kazinform News Agency.
According to Sharkhan, the exact size of the deposit's reserves will be announced after they have been verified by independent experts.
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