Kazakhstan is pursuing industrial partnerships with Belgian companies to expand its rare earth processing capacity and strengthen its position as a potential supplier of critical raw materials to European manufacturers. The initiative aims to reduce reliance on China’s dominant mineral processing industry while allowing Kazakhstan to capture more value from its domestic resources.
The strategy centres on developing an integrated critical minerals supply chain, covering extraction, chemical processing, separation and advanced materials production. By attracting European technology and industrial expertise, Kazakhstan hopes to move beyond exporting unprocessed minerals towards supplying higher-value products for European industry.
At an industry meeting at Nazarbayev University in Astana, Deputy Industry and Construction Minister Olzhas Saparbekov said the country had the geological and industrial potential to supply 21 of the 34 critical raw materials identified by the European Union.
The proposed cooperation model would initially involve European companies providing processing technologies, technical knowledge and industrial equipment, with production activities gradually expanding within Kazakhstan. Potential applications include electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, semiconductors, aerospace equipment and specialised industrial alloys, all of which depend on reliable access to strategic materials.
Processing Technology at the Centre of Investment Plans
Kazakhstan already produces strategic metals such as tantalum, niobium and beryllium, but expanding domestic processing could increase the economic value generated from its mineral resources. Potential areas of cooperation with Belgian companies include hydrometallurgical extraction, rare earth oxide separation, mineral recycling, industrial equipment manufacturing and specialised materials production.
The government is also preparing to establish domestic gallium production, with a target capacity of 15 tonnes annually. The development could provide an additional source of material used in semiconductor manufacturing and advanced electronics. Belgium could contribute specialised industrial capabilities and access to European customers through the Port of Antwerp, a major logistics hub for chemicals, metals and industrial materials.
Companies represented during the discussions included Molymet Belgium, an industrial metals processor, and Australia’s Lindian Resources, which has interests in rare earth processing in Kazakhstan.
The initiative remains at an exploratory stage. No binding investment commitments, construction budgets or commercial supply agreements have been announced. The next steps are expected to include mineral sample exchanges, laboratory testing, processing trials and feasibility assessments. These activities will help determine whether the identified resources can support commercially viable production.
Geological Exploration Strengthens Kazakhstan’s Resource Potential
Kazakhstan has allocated more than 67 billion tenge, equivalent to approximately €130 million, to geological exploration since the launch of its investment programme. Government exploration initiatives covering 11 sites have identified 38 prospective areas, expanding the country’s potential pipeline of mineral development projects. Particular attention is focused on the Kuirektykol rare earth deposit in the Karaganda region, where exploration has indicated substantially greater mineral resources than previously estimated.
Nevertheless, larger geological resource estimates do not automatically establish economically recoverable reserves or guarantee profitable production. Commercial development will depend on several factors, including ore grades, metallurgical recovery rates, processing costs, environmental requirements and access to long-term industrial customers. The priority is therefore to demonstrate that Kazakhstan can produce separated and refined materials at competitive costs. Without proven processing performance and commercially attractive economics, geological potential alone will not be sufficient to secure large-scale industrial investment.
European Research and Financing Support Planned
Kazakhstan is planning to establish a regional rare earth research and testing centre with participation from European institutions. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has supported the preparation of a preliminary feasibility study for the initiative. Construction of the planned laboratory complex is expected to begin in 2027, with operations targeted for 2028.
The facility would support mineral characterisation, the selection of suitable processing technologies and pilot-scale testing. Its findings could provide the technical evidence required to advance larger industrial projects.
For investors and lenders, these assessments are essential to determining whether deposits can sustain commercially viable processing facilities and deliver consistent product quality. The investment requirements are also likely to extend beyond mining operations. Projects may require substantial capital for chemical separation plants, energy and water infrastructure, environmental management systems and transport logistics. Developers will need to demonstrate reliable access to mineral feedstock and competitive operating costs before European manufacturers can commit to incorporating Kazakh materials into long-term procurement agreements.
Europe Seeks to Diversify Critical Mineral Processing
The initiative aligns with the European Union’s efforts to diversify critical raw material supplies and reduce exposure to concentrated global processing capacity, particularly in China. Kazakhstan offers significant geological potential, an established mining sector and existing industrial infrastructure. Belgium, meanwhile, could contribute specialised processing technology, industrial expertise and connections to European manufacturing markets.
The proposed partnership could create opportunities for both sides, but the distinction between resource availability and commercially deliverable supply remains fundamental. Kazakhstan’s potential to supply 21 EU-listed critical raw materials encompasses existing production, prospective resources and projects at different stages of development. It should not be interpreted as evidence that the country can immediately provide processing capacity for all these materials.
Turning the initiative into a functioning supply chain will require proven recovery technologies, bankable project economics, funded industrial facilities and committed European buyers. For Kazakhstan, successful implementation would mean retaining more value domestically through processing and advanced manufacturing rather than relying primarily on mineral extraction and exports.
For Europe, the potential benefit is an additional source of processed critical materials for strategic industries, supporting efforts to diversify supply chains without creating another excessive dependence on a single supplier. The decisive step will be whether the proposed Belgian technology partnerships progress from preliminary studies and laboratory testing to financed processing projects capable of delivering reliable volumes at competitive prices.
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