Kazakhstan has announced the discovery of a significant rare earth deposit in the Karaganda region, with potential reserves that could rank the country third worldwide for such resources. The announcement came just before the EU-Central Asia summit in Uzbekistan.

The site, named "New Kazakhstan," contains nearly one million tons of cerium, lanthanum, neodyme, and yttrium. These elements are used as components in smartphones, digital cameras, and computer hard drives. "Four prospective zones have been identified at the site, with total rare earth reserves estimated at 935,400 tons," reported a spokesperson from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Industry and Construction.

This discovery follows other major mineral findings globally, including California's recent identification of 18 million tons of lithium beneath the Salton Sea. That deposit, valued at approximately $540 billion, could power batteries for 382 million electric vehicles and potentially end U.S. reliance on lithium imports from China.

Preliminary estimates suggest total reserves at the "New Kazakhstan" site could reach 20 million tons at a depth of 300 meters, with an average rare earth content of 700 grams per ton. If confirmed, these figures would place Kazakhstan among the top three countries worldwide for rare earth reserves.

Experts urge caution about the discovery. Georgiy Freiman, executive committee chairman of the Professional Association of Independent Mining Experts (PONEN), stated that further exploration work is needed before confirming the site as a deposit. Several factors must be assessed, including:

• Hydrogeology and geomechanics
• Extraction feasibility and methods
• Economic viability considering market conditions
• Needs of relevant industries

The site exploration began in 2022, with results reported to the Kazakh government in October 2024. Analysts believe the timing of the public announcement was strategic, coming just before the EU-Central Asia summit where the EU approved a new roadmap for 2025-2026 with Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan currently lacks technologies for deep processing of rare earths and will need foreign partners. According to Arthur Poliakov, executive chairman of MINEX Forum, China will likely be involved as the largest consumer of rare earth metals, while the EU could be the second key partner despite logistical challenges.

The national mining company Tau-Ken Samruk is expected to lead the next development phase, which includes additional geological studies, technology selection, and feasibility assessments. Development could take up to six years and require approximately $10 million in investment, with actual mineral extraction potentially taking 10-12 years.