ASTANA – Kazakhstan is expanding geological and geophysical exploration to strengthen its mineral-resource base and support a strategic shift toward deeper processing and higher-value production. Geological exploration expands across Kazakhstan. Photo credit: Ministry of Industry and Construction.
By the end of this year, exploration is expected to cover 2.2 million square kilometers, with work completed at 25 sites. A key priority is the transition from regional 1:200,000-scale surveys to more detailed 1:50,000 geological mapping (GS-50). This year, 20 GS-50 projects were launched to identify prospective areas for gold, copper, polymetals, rare earth elements, lithium, tungsten, molybdenum and other strategic minerals, reported the Ministry of Industry and Construction on Aug.
17. The government has allocated 40.7 billion tenge (US$88 million) for geological surveys and seismic exploration in 2026-2028. Of this, 32.7 billion tenge (US$70.7 million) is allocated to GS-50 projects and 8 billion tenge (US$17.3 million) to seismic exploration.
The program also plans six 2D seismic projects in the North Torgai and Shu-Sarysu sedimentary basins. The program combines airborne geophysics, geochemical and laboratory studies, remote-sensing analysis, drilling and geophysical well logging. Its strategic value is to reduce geological uncertainty and improve the investment case for future mining projects.
The exploration program supports Kazakhstan’s strategic objective of moving beyond a predominantly raw-material economy. At the Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress 2026 on June 11, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said the country aims to develop deeper processing and competitive value-added production.
Over the past two years, more than US$1 billion worth of higher-value mining and metallurgical facilities have been launched. The approach places greater importance on geological data. David Fogel, assistant secretary of Commerce and Director General of the U.S.
and Foreign Commercial Service, said at the congress that mapping and surveying are fundamental to reducing uncertainty and attracting investment. “If you don’t map the resources and the geography properly, then you’re not going to be very efficient and you’re not going to be able to attract large-scale investment,” Fogel said, adding that artificial intelligence is already transforming geological analysis and surveying.
His remarks underline a key point for Kazakhstan: exploration is not only about identifying deposits, but also about producing the reliable data needed to mobilize large-scale capital. The Northern Katpar and Upper Kairakty tungsten project illustrates this strategy.