Upcoming Events

Almaty International Conference

Where East and West meet on critical raw materials for energy transition

Recently emphasis was placed on key aspects of cooperation between the USA, EU and Kazakhstan in the field of mineral resources and energy. There is a great prospect for a long-term partnership, having more than 30 years of experience in collaboration between the countries. 

The potential of Kazakhstan for the extraction of more than 16 rare minerals identified by the US Geological Survey has been highlighted. These include bismuth, gallium, vanadium, tungsten, tin, tantalum, niobium, magnesium, lithium, indium, graphite, cobalt and others, which provides strategic support for cooperation in ensuring the stability of resource supplies. The interest of large western companies in various aspects of Kazakhstan's mining and energy industry was considered during several meetings between various countries’ officials.

However, there are several obstacles which are not on the table during the official high- level meetings. During our Conference we intend to identify these obstacles, discuss them with all interested parties, and assist in tackling them.  

We plan to stress on the following challenges for western investors: 

1. The State Subsoil Fund Management Program (SSFMP). Any geological area/object that an investor claims must be included in the SSFMP registry and then it may be auctioned. This procedure is a concrete problem that prevents investors. The declared principle of "First come - first get" is blocked by the SSFMP, when the priority right of the investor who applied for a prospective area, as a result of the analysis and reinterpretation of the geological information produced by him, becomes the property of anyone who wants it. To remove this problem, the application submitted by the investor must be considered without an auction (and without the SSFMP) and resulted with the issuance of a license. Only under such conditions will fulfill the declaration "first come - first get".

2.  Availability of the geological information. The National Geological Data Bank exists only on paper. Up to now, only the register of the geological and geophysical studies and the list of the geological reports are publicly available. The lack of public access to the geological reports themselves does not allow potential investors to quickly assess the prospects and risks of the areas they are interested in. They have to spend months searching for information bit by bit. Searching for the geological information in various sources is a separate story. Although it is still possible to get the reports, it is almost impossible to receive any primary documentation (ditch testing logs, well documentation). This information is cataloged. Also, digitalization of this information, even at the project, has not been performed.

3. The government practices in granting licenses without competition from time to time. This creates privileges and projects with legal flaws that Western companies do not risk investing in.

4. Similarly, the government previously practiced issuing licenses without competition within the framework of the industrial projects (regulated by law), but on dubious grounds and non-realistic projects. As a result, about 80 promising exploration projects have been accumulated, in which, due to irreparable legal defects, Western businesses do not undertake to invest. But the state does not revoke licenses for them and does not put them in a competitive environment. Only neighboring countries enter such projects. An environment created by this practice scares Western businesses to get involved with.

5. It is not surprising that there is no agreement on RE deployment effects on the complex economic indicators. Especially in country like Kazakhstan, where power sector based on coal combustion. One thing remains clear, ie there is an urgent need for innovation and technological development in the energy sector and first of all for solutions for grid stability, which demands introduction of Artificial Intelligence technologies.  Prospects for AI in the energy sector as well as in mineral exploration and development can be very beneficial for Big Tech companies interested in getting involved in partnering with local companies on this matter.  

The event will feature high-level governmental officials, companies involved in CRMs and energy transition development, geological and energy experts, and more.

Reasons for you to join us in Almaty: 

• Hear from a wide array of key industry speakers discussing CRMs and energy developments challenges. Find the answers to pressing questions from within the industry from companies at the forefront of development, providing detailed insights and analysis of market expectations, finance & investment, as well as technologies used 

• Network with key industry players from leading companies in the field and relevant governmental agencies. 

• Promote your business services, products, and technologies to a captive audience. Companies can gain direct access to our senior level audience and have an increased level of visibility through branding and networking at the conference.