Kazakhstan and UK Strengthen Critical Minerals Partnership
Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom are advancing their partnership in the field of critical minerals, with British companies actively negotiating supply contracts with Kazakhstani producers of tungsten products. Six brokers from the UK and three end users are currently in talks to secure these materials, reflecting growing interest in strengthening supply chains for essential metals.
The discussions took place during an event organized by the British Critical Minerals Association in London, attended by over 300 representatives from the mining industry, consultants, diplomats, and officials. The partnership between Kazakhstan and the UK is regarded as one of the most promising collaborations in the critical minerals sector.
According to Gavin Mudd, Head of the Mining Department at the UK Department of Business and Trade, the joint efforts have already shown significant progress. In March 2023, the partners signed a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals, followed by a partnership roadmap in 2024. Since then, the British Embassy in Kazakhstan has facilitated deals worth £5.4 million ($7 million), strengthening business, political, and educational ties. These initiatives are projected to bring £100 million ($126.6 million) in benefits to the UK over the next five years.
A key development has been the collaboration between British companies and Kazakhstani producers of tungsten. Talks are underway to establish supply contracts, and partnerships are also forming between the British Geological Survey and Kazakhstan's National Geological Survey to digitize geological data, making future investment decisions more informed and reducing risks.
The UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre recently expanded its list of critical minerals from 18 to 34, adding elements like aluminum, germanium, nickel, titanium, and zinc. This reflects the increasing challenges in maintaining resilient supply chains for these essential materials, as the UK aims to balance rising demand with reliable supply.
Kazakhstan, which is home to 9,000 deposits of 103 types of minerals, plays a vital role in the global supply of key materials. The country ranks 11th globally in nickel reserves and produces vital components for industries such as aerospace and energy. One in every five aircraft worldwide is equipped with fuselages made from Kazakh titanium, and Kazakh rhenium is used in jet engines. The country also produces beryllium, used in satellites and nuclear energy, at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant.
Recent initiatives in Kazakhstan have captured 5% of the global market for high-purity manganese sulfate, a critical component in lithium-ion batteries. Future plans include doubling production and launching nickel- and cobalt-based cathode components for battery manufacturing. Kazakhstan's focus on developing resource processing capabilities domestically, while allowing foreign companies to export resources, aligns with its long-term goals of adding value to its mineral wealth.
Kazakhstan and the UK plan to establish modern processing facilities between 2025 and 2026, focusing on advanced raw material processing. British involvement in these initiatives could be crucial, as the partnership aims to lay a foundation for long-term development and economic growth.
