Kazakhstan sees surge in mineral exploration amid reform drive

Kazakhstan is home to around 10,000 identified mineral deposits, with the country’s mining sector experiencing a significant boost under reforms introduced in 2018, officials say.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Construction Iran Sharkhan told local media that the reforms, modelled closely on Australia’s approach to subsoil use, have spurred a dramatic increase in private investment in geological exploration, Caliber.Az reports.

“Private investment in exploration has multiplied compared to the period before the reforms. We see an increase of more than 2.5 times,” Sharkhan said.

Over the past five years, total investment in the sector has surpassed $1 billion.