Kazakhstan Joins Race for Rare Earths, Posing as Alternative to China

Kazakhstan is entering the global race for rare earth minerals, positioning itself as a potential alternative to China. The Central Asian nation aims to attract international investment by offering access to its untapped reserves of lithium, cobalt, and other critical materials used in electronics and green energy. Rare earths are a group of 17 metallic elements essential for making smartphones, electric vehicle batteries, and wind turbines. China currently controls over 60% of global mining and nearly 90% of processing, creating supply risks for other countries. Kazakhstan’s government has announced plans to open new mining areas and simplify regulations for foreign companies. The country already produces significant amounts of uranium and oil, but rare earths represent a new frontier. Industry experts say Kazakhstan’s reserves are large but largely unexplored, requiring billions in investment to develop. The move comes as Western nations and Japan seek to reduce dependence on Chinese supplies. Kazakhstan’s central location, with direct rail links to Europe and China, also offers logistical advantages. However, analysts warn that building a full supply chain, from mining to refining, could take a decade or more. Kazakh officials say they are in talks with several international firms. No major deals have been announced yet, but the country is expected to release a detailed resource map later this year.