Photo: Shutterstock, photo editor: Milosh Muratovskiy
Kazakhstan reported the discovery of 38 new deposits of copper, nickel, coal, gold and rare earth metals in the first quarter of 2025, according to a government statement.
The discoveries followed extensive geological studies, including aerial photograph analysis, route surveys, drilling, geochemical testing, radiation and water sampling, and desk research.
The newly identified deposits are estimated to contain:
- 2.6 million tons of rare earth metals
- 1.1 billion tons of brown coal
- 3.7 million tons of copper and nickel
- 19 tons of gold
The total area of geological and geophysical exploration in Kazakhstan is expected to expand to 2.2 million square kilometers by 2026, compared to just 2,000 square kilometers in 2024. This initiative follows a directive by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has instructed the cabinet to prioritize mineral exploration.
To support this effort, the government has earmarked $44.4 million for geological exploration between 2024 and 2026, with $14.8 million allocated for 2025.
Between 2018 and 2024, mining companies invested approximately $827.3 million in Kazakhstan’s mineral sector. In 2025 alone, exploration investments are expected to reach $206.8 million. A streamlined licensing process — requiring only reporting rather than predefined work volumes — has made the market more accessible to investors.
Earlier this month, Eurasian Resources Group announced the discovery of a new copper deposit with projected reserves of 250,000 tons.
