Kazakhstan to Boost Geological Exploration Spending, Pushes for Mining Sector Modernization
Astana, The Gulf Observer: Kazakhstan is set to significantly increase its geological exploration spending this year, directing at least 30 billion tenge toward the development of its subsoil resources, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced during a government meeting on Tuesday.
According to media reports, Prime Minister Bektenov stated that proceeds from signing bonuses—collected through auctions for the right of subsoil use—will be allocated to support geological exploration efforts. “This amount will be increased,” he noted, underlining the strategic importance of geological development in supporting the country’s economic diversification and industrial expansion.
In addition to the increased investment, Bektenov emphasized the need to enhance labor safety measures for workers in the metallurgy and mining sectors, highlighting the government’s commitment to safeguarding worker welfare.
As part of broader efforts to strengthen and modernize Kazakhstan’s mining industry, the Prime Minister issued a series of key directives:
- The Ministry of Industry, in collaboration with major mining enterprises, is to develop a comprehensive plan by October 1 for producing high value-added products from raw materials.
- The Industry Ministry and the Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund are instructed to promote the extraction and production of technologically innovative products, particularly those involving critical and rare metals, and to develop a strategy for industrial waste recycling in support of a circular economy.
- The Ministry of Science and Higher Education, together with the Industry Ministry, is tasked with designing a specialized training program for the mining sector within one month and enhancing the role of science in the development and implementation of new production technologies.
- The Ministries of Industry, Ecology, and Emergency Situations, in cooperation with major mining enterprises, are instructed to modernize existing production facilities, introduce new technologies, and improve safety standards across the sector.
These initiatives reflect Kazakhstan’s strategic intent to build a more technologically advanced, sustainable, and value-oriented mining industry, while reinforcing worker safety and education as integral components of the nation’s industrial growth.
