Kazakhstan’s East Region Poised to Become Lithium Production Hub
According to Kanat Sharlapaev, Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the East Kazakhstan region is likely to become a major hub for lithium production, reports Kazinform News Agency.
Today, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Akorda presidential residence. During the meeting, Minister Sharlapaev emphasized that the Republic of Korea is one of Kazakhstan's top five investment partners. The KIA plant, currently under construction in Kazakhstan, is set to be inaugurated next year. Additionally, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) is conducting geological lithium exploration in Kazakhstan, with a contract to be signed today. This development will enable Kazakhstan to produce lithium, a capability it currently lacks.
Minister Sharlapaev highlighted that KIGAM is exploring a lithium deposit in the East Kazakhstan region. The metal is crucial for producing batteries for electric vehicles. This discovery could solidify Kazakhstan's position as a significant emerging source of lithium, a potential highlighted by senior European Commission official Maros Sefcovic at the EU-Kazakhstan Business Forum in November.
Kazakhstan positions itself as a vital potential global supplier of high-quality lithium, essential for the booming power-storage technology industry. In October 2022, President Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan may have as much as 100,000 tons of lithium.
