One of China’s largest mining companies, Zijin Mining Group, has registered a new company, Tianshan Resources Co. Ltd., at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). The development was reported by economist Arman Batayev on his Telegram channel, Finmentor.kz.
The new entity was registered with an authorized capital of 5 million tenge ($10,000). Its founder is Zijin Mining Group Northwest Geological Exploration Co. Ltd., a specialized subsidiary focused on geological exploration, resource assessment, and engineering support for mining projects.
According to Batayev, the subsidiary operates in northwestern China, including the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, as well as in neighboring Central Asian countries.
Expanding presence in Kazakhstan
Zijin Mining Group is one of the world’s largest mining companies, producing gold, copper, zinc, lithium, and other metals. The company’s assets are located across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
The group is already an established investor in Kazakhstan. Last year, its subsidiary acquired Kazakh gold producer RG Gold. At the time, the company also announced plans to invest $600 million in the development of the Raygorodok gold deposit.
«The registration of a new company in the AIFC may indicate that the Chinese mining giant is continuing to strengthen its presence in Kazakhstan and likely views the country as a platform for further expansion in Central Asia’s mining sector,» Batayev said.
RG Gold posts strong financial results
RG Gold, which operates in Kazakhstan’s Akmola region, nearly doubled its net profit in 2025 compared with the previous year, reaching 158 billion tenge. Revenue from the sale of gold-bearing products increased by 75%, to 390 billion tenge.
In October 2025, Zijin Eurasia Mining Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group, acquired a 100% stake in the company from Cantech S.à r.l. Cantech acted as a trustee for beneficiaries that included members of the family of Bulat Utemuratov and RCFM GP L.L.C., a Delaware-based investment entity.
Utemuratov, the owner of ForteBank and Home Credit Bank Kazakhstan, ranks third among Kazakhstan’s richest businesspeople, according to Forbes Kazakhstan. His net worth is estimated at $5.4 billion.
