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A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 4
The recent PDAC Conference in Toronto
included the Russia and Eurasia Mining
Conference hosted by the Canada Eurasia
Russian Business Association (CERBA). The
day-long presentation included talks by a
delegation from Kazakhstan that focused
on opportunities in that country's mining
sector.
The Republic of Kazakhstan, which has an
economy larger than all other Central Asian
states, hosts vast natural resources, includ
-
ing oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite,
lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold,
silver, phosphates, sulfur and uranium.
Kazakhstan, which has had diplomatic
relations with Canada for about 20 years,
has already attracted two Canadian min
-
ing companies and wishes to attract more.
Cameco Corp. operates a uranium mine and
Alhambra Resources Ltd. operates a gold
mine. Senior Anglo-Australian miner Rio
Tinto has a MOU to explore for copper and
other minerals.
To aid in attracting foreign mineral
investment, Kazakhstan is in the process
of modernizing its mining regulations.
Indeed, some 47 amendments are planned
to be implemented by year end. The new
regulations are designed to cut down on
waiting times for permits. In addition, there
are new regulations to ease procurement of
equipment and suppliers from outside the
country. Attracting qualified personnel is
an important consideration and a modern
geological centre is being developed with
the Colorado School of Mines.
In his presentation, Alibek Arshabekov,
Managing Director of national mining com
-
pany Tau-Ken Samruk, pointed out that
Kazakhstan is politically stable and offers a
strategic location for shipping a variety of
minerals to a large marketplace. As well,
mining regulations are designed to provide
protection for foreign investment. Mineral
projects can be acquired either through a
tender process or direct negotiation.
n
Kazakhstan
open for
business
MINING
