Towards a Greener Future: Kazakhstan's Commitment to Eco-Friendly Mining

I truly feel that my country, Kazakhstan, a nation-rich in natural resources, is called to play a major role among sustainable mining nations.

We are lucky to have rich reserves of hydrocarbons and minerals, or natural assets, that lay the foundation of our economy and industrial landscape. According to the World Bank, Kazakhstan has over 5,000 unexplored mineral reserves, potentially worth more than $46 trillion.

Around 220,000 people are currently employed in the mining industry, and 1.5 million square kilometers of land are open for geological exploration.

To make a reference, I want to applaud Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev, who led the Kazakh delegation at the Toronto PDAC conference, for stating Kazakhstan's role in the global mining industry and showing that we are operating on a significant scale.

Let’s break it down, we are:

-World's largest uranium producer (33% of global output in 2021),
-3rd in global titanium production,
-7th in zinc production,
-8th in lead production,
-11th in gold production,
-8th largest iron ore reserves (5 billion tons),
-2nd in manganese ore reserves (600 million tons),

we have:

-copper reserves estimated at 36 million tons,
-30% of global chromite ore reserves and 95% of chromium reserves,
-lithium reserves of around 75,600 tons.

As demand surges for the metal, Kazakhstan is seen as a global supplier of high-quality lithium.  Nowadays, we all see a rapid increase in the electric vehicle industry.

As an investor, I am a big supporter of sustainable mining. Products made from lithium, like batteries, support clean energy use that improves sustainability. But to make lithium mining sustainable, we must adopt practices that reduce water usage, minimize habitat disruption, and support recycling.

We must continue to believe in our potential and work towards a greener future. By learning from our experience, we help these industries grow and ensure mining remains aligned with the global shift toward sustainability.

As many of you already know, and as I’ve often said, the future of mining is in using what we've learned over the years in areas like nickel, cobalt, and lithium. These materials are key to electric vehicles and the green economy.

Together, we should use our resources to drive growth for Kazakhstan and the Kazakh people.