The Kazakh government has announced the start of a new phase of mineral exploration, committing 240 billion tenge, about $500 million, over the next three years to geological research.
For comparison, that figure exceeds total investment in the sector over the past 15 years, which amounted to $469 million, according to the government’s press office.
Modernizing geological mapping
A central goal of the initiative is to move away from outdated Soviet-era geological maps. Until now, mapping was conducted at a scale of 1:200,000. Under the new program, surveys will be carried out at a more detailed scale of 1:50,000.
Officials say the update will bring Kazakhstan’s geological research in line with standards used in the European Union, Canada and Australia, and will allow experts to identify previously hidden mineral deposits that could not be detected using older data.
Focus on minerals and energy resources
Exploration efforts will target copper, gold, lead, zinc, barite, bauxite and rare earth elements, as well as oil and natural gas.
Seismic surveys are also planned in several poorly studied sedimentary basins, including the North Torgai, Shu-Sarysu and Syr Darya basins.
