Kazakhstan Seeks to Strengthen Position in Critical Minerals Market, PM Bektenov Says
Critical materials are becoming a key resource of the new industrial era, and Kazakhstan intends to strengthen its position in the global critical minerals market by leveraging the country's substantial mineral resource base, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said at the 16th Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress 2026.
Possession of advanced technologies, processing capabilities, and participation in global value chains are gaining particular importance. The market for critical minerals represents a distinct and strategically important segment. Today, these materials already form the foundation for the production of batteries, semiconductors, energy storage systems, digital infrastructure, and many other advanced technologies. In effect, critical minerals are becoming one of the key resources of the new industrial era," Bektenov said.
The prime minister noted that Kazakhstan possesses significant mineral and raw material potential and is well positioned to play an important role in these global processes.
Our country is among the world leaders in reserves of a number of mineral resources, while products from Kazakhstan’s mining and metallurgical sector are in demand across major international markets. We view the development of this industry as one of the strategic priorities of the country’s new industrial policy," Bektenov stressed.
He added that the mining and metallurgical sector is becoming one of the key determinants of countries’ global competitiveness.
The world is entering a new industrial era in which the development of the energy sector, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, microelectronics, and the aerospace industry depends directly on reliable access to metals and mineral resources," Bektenov said.
According to assessments by international experts, global demand for many types of metals is expected to grow steadily over the coming decades, driven by the energy transition and the technological transformation of the global economy.
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