Viewing results 1 - 6 of 3
EuroChem, a global fertilizer leader and China National Chemical Engineering Co. (CNCEC), a global provider of industrial engineering technologies are to collaborate on the design, construction, and commission of a large-scale chemical complex to produce mineral fertilizers in Zhanatas located in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region. The agreement was officially signed on 14 May in Astana. Scheduled to open in 2027, the construction of the chemical complex is part of the Integrated Kazakhstan Industrialization Roadmap and represents the third and final stage of a project in which EuroChem has invested over US$1 billion. EuroChem Group President Oleg Shiryaev said that once in operation, the plant will have an annual output of over one million tons of mineral fertilizers, in high demand by Kazakhstan, other Central Asian countries, China, Russia and Europe. According to a report by the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Construction, the new enterprise will create 2,400 new jobs. During the signing of the agreement, Minister of Industry and Construction of Kazakhstan Kanat Sharlapaev, welcomed the input of world leaders in mineral fertilizer production as an important step in developing the country's chemical industry and emphasized: “To be truly food secure, fertilizers are a must. This is therefore a landmark project for us. Its joint implementation with EuroChem and Chinese partners is a great example of large Eurasian cooperation at its best and a significant event for regional food security.”
At a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on April 8th, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev reported on plans regarding geological prospecting and the use of subsoil. According to the minister, Kazakhstan is poised to auction rights for subsoil use at 100 solid minerals deposits. Sharlapayev also highlighted a 2.5-fold growth in private investment in geological exploration of solid minerals. With the introduction of the digital platform “E-Qazyna.kz,” auctions are now conducted electronically, resulting in a significant increase in transparency and accessibility. In a statement, the minister stressed, “Participation in the auctions by major global companies, including Rio Tinto and Fortescue, indicates increasing competition for the opportunity to explore potentially resource-rich, but as yet undeveloped fields in Kazakhstan.” Major international companies including Arras Minerals, Rio Tinto, IG Kazakhstan, Fortescue, East Star Resources, Pallas Resources, Sarytogan Graphite, and Esan Eczacibasi have now invested at least 41 billion tenge on the excavation of areas amounting to 25 thousand square kilometres.
On February 8th, the U.S. Department of State hosted the inaugural meeting of the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialog (CMD), an initiative announced by Joe Biden and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan at their C5+1 summit in New York in September 2023. The C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialog aims to increase the region’s involvement in global critical minerals supply chains, strengthen economic cooperation, and advance the transition to clean energy, while also protecting Central Asia’s unique ecosystems, the U.S. Department of State said. The United States Under-Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Jose W. Fernandez, chaired the CMD meeting, and Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, Geoffrey Pyatt moderated the event, accompanied by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central Asian Affairs, John Mark Pommersheim, and colleagues from across the U.S. government who work on critical minerals. Senior officials from each of the Central Asian governments shared their interest in developing investment opportunities in critical minerals that meet the highest environmental standards. The participants of the meeting underscored the benefit of working together to advance their countries’ shared critical minerals objectives including diversification of markets and development of technologies.
