Kazakhstan Lithium Mine Development Led by Korea

Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources and Kazakh Government Sign Joint Exploration Agreement

On the 23rd (Wednesday), at the KIGAM-Kazakhstan Geological Committee agreement ceremony held at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Astana, Kazakhstan, Hwang Se-ho, Vice President of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) (left), and Serikkali Brekeshev, Minister of Ecology, Geology, and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, are greeting each other.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] A Korean research institute is exploring promising lithium deposits in Kazakhstan, a resource-rich country in Central Asia.

The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) announced on the 27th that it signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding with the Committee of Geology of Kazakhstan on the 22nd at 3 p.m. local time, covering geology, mineral resources, energy resources, geological disasters, and climate change.

With the Kazakh government in need of suitable technical models for the mid- to long-term development of key minerals such as lithium, KIGAM was selected as a cooperation partner. KIGAM will select two lithium test beds deemed promising by Kazakhstan and conduct exploration projects and joint research starting in 2023. To facilitate the provision of geological and mining data held by Kazakhstan and the smooth progress of future joint research, a working group will be formed. In particular, KIGAM will actively cooperate in selecting and verifying data for seven collaborative projects that explore and develop major mineral resources in Kazakhstan, including rare earth elements, copper-molybdenum, as well as lithium.

KIGAM will also conduct international joint research in the field of ore beneficiation and smelting with Kazakhmys Barlau LLP, Kazakhstan's largest mineral exploration company. This company operates 17 mines, 10 beneficiation facilities, and 2 smelting plants in Kazakhstan. It handles the entire process from mine operation to the production of metals such as copper, gold, silver, and zinc.

Kazakhstan is a resource-rich country with about 100 types of minerals, being the world's largest uranium producer accounting for 40% of global production, and a major producer of copper, zinc, and molybdenum. Last October, the Kazakh government requested Korea's technical support and expanded cooperation and investment for the efficient development of its key minerals.

Lee Pyeong-gu, President of KIGAM, said, "The exploration of promising lithium deposits in Kazakhstan is a new breakthrough for the reorganization and expansion of the global critical minerals supply chain and a model for overseas resource development cooperation. Based on KIGAM's human and technological networks, we will do our best to maintain a friendly cooperative relationship and enhance the execution of overseas resource development through the advancement of technology development."