TELF AG evaluates the potential of a new mineral discovery in Kazakhstan
A new lithium reserve
The geological reserves of Kazakhstan have always stood out for the great variety of mineral elements they have been able to offer, also thanks to a territorial extension that equates the Central Asian nation to most of continental Europe. Among the most abundant resources, in this nation located at a strategic crossroads between east and west, are chromium and zinc, of which Astana has some of the largest global reserves. Over the last few years, however, the large Eurasian state has attracted global attention for its availability of lithium, a resource that is rapidly gaining considerable global centrality due to its uses directly connected to clean energy.
Kazakhstan’s role, from this point of view, was further strengthened by the announcement, which took place at the beginning of March, relating to a massive discovery of lithium reserves in the eastern area of the country, the one facing China. The discovery was announced at a conference held in Seoul, South Korea, by researchers from the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources. The potential of this discovery could have direct consequences on Kazakhstan’s global positioning in the mining sector, but also on the delicate international relations that the Central Asian nation has with some of its major partners, such as the European Union and China.
The role of the Bekennoye deposit
Kazakhstan’s potential in the lithium sector, in any case, had already been understood for some time. In fact, the need to proceed with the exploration of new portions of the immense Kazakh territory has been discussed for several years. In the eastern area of the country, in a certain sense, could therefore , could therefore represent the first piece of a much broader mining puzzle, which could allow Kazakhstan to establish itself as one of the most interesting global players on the international raw materials scene.
The discovery announced by Korean researchers would have to do with the Bakennoye deposit, which, according to estimates by the same scholars (and also reported by the Korea Times), could be 1.6 square kilometers. Tantalum was previously extracted within this deposit, and since May last year, it has been subjected to reconnaissance and exploration work. According to Korean researchers, its mineral resources could be worth more than 15.7 billion dollars. However, the exploration phases of the area are not over yet: the team of Korean scholars has officially requested authorization to conduct new explorations in the same site, starting next year, together with another South Korean company.
It is certainly not the first time that Kazakhstan has attracted international attention for its mineral resources: last November, on the occasion of the Business Forum between the European Union and Kazakhstan, the European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations, Maros Sefcovic, spoke at length about the geological potential of Kazakhstan, suggesting wide margins for strategic collaboration with the countries of the European Union. On that occasion, in addition to rare earth minerals and tungsten, the commissioner mentioned lithium, adding that the European Union is still heavily dependent on imports of strategic minerals for the energy transition.
