Kazatomprom and Tajik Rare Metals sign Memorandum of Understanding.
Kazakhstan and Tajikistan will expand cooperation in the mining and processing of uranium, rare metals, and rare earths. Kazatomprom, the world’s largest producer of uranium, and Tajik Rare Metals (Tajredmet), a state-owned enterprise overseeing Tajikistan’s uranium industry’s waste streams, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect. The MoU sets out to establish a strategic partnership between the two Central Asian countries to advance both countries’ mining industries and develop necessary technologies. The MoU was already signed on August 22 during a state visit of Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Tajikistan, according to Kazatomprom.
Under the umbrella term rare metals, the two companies encompass metals that occur infrequently in Earth’s crust. For example, Kazatomprom is also among the world’s largest producers of tantalum, niobium, and beryllium. However, Kazakhstan also plans to mine rare earth elements such as neodymium.
Central Asia’s Mineral Wealth Promising for Countries Seeking to Diversify
Central Asia hosts a large number of rare earth deposits – in 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey compiled a list of 384 occurrences of rare earth element-bearing minerals (PDF). However, the countries mine next to none. Earlier this year, the Kazakh Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapaev announced plans to change this (we reported).
The mineral potential of Kazakhstan has long been moving into the center of attention of countries seeking to diversify supply chains of critical minerals. In 2022, Kazakhstan and the EU concluded a strategic partnership on raw materials and green hydrogen, and the country has since signed multiple deals with EU member states, including France and Germany.
Photo: Emarto, Manciagli via Canva
