Format: Presentations

Mining has moved to the centre of geopolitical competition, as critical minerals underpin clean energy, defence and digital technologies. Kazakhstan sits at a strategic crossroads in this new landscape: a major uranium and copper producer with emerging rare earths potential, positioned between Russia, China and Western markets. This session examines how control over resources, refining and midstream processing is reshaping alliances, trade routes and sanctions. Where Kazakhstan fits in evolving supply chains, how partners seek to diversify away from single suppliers, and what this means for the country’s foreign policy and development path.

Format: Panel with high-level officials and Industry ambassadors  

Kazakhstan is navigating a dual-track regulatory shift. While aggressively courting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for critical minerals, highlighted by a transition from a Mineral Extraction Tax (MET) to a royalty-based model by 2026–2027-the state is simultaneously tightening its grip on its natural resources. New legislative amendments under the 2026 Tax Code will formalise “strategic investor” statuses and link fiscal terms to strict processing obligations. This session examines how Kazakhstan can reconcile rising resource nationalism with the need for global capital, comparing its strategy against other major mining jurisdictions to find a sustainable path for long-term development.

Format: Presentations and panel discussion with high-level officials and Industry Champions  

Kazakhstan ranks sixth globally in total mineral reserves, hosting some 5,000 deposits. The country’s strategic value lies not only in the volume of its resources but in the diversity of its portfolio. Kazakhstan is moving swiftly into midstream mineral processing, aiming to maximise returns from its gold, copper, tungsten and rare earth reserves. This shift merges industrial policy with capital strategy, as Chinese mega‑projects deliver scale while Western investors introduce high‑tech, ESG‑aligned processing like POX and green-hydrogen-ready HBI. The session explores how Kazakhstan can attract financing, stabilise commodity-linked revenues, and build resilience amid volatile global metals markets. Can its energy and water systems sustain this leap? Is the Middle Corridor ready for high‑value exports? How will fiscal policy and investor confidence shape Kazakhstan’s next frontier in value‑added metals? 

Format: Panel with high-level officials and Industry ambassadors  

Kazakhstan pursues foreign direct investment in critical minerals while strengthening state control over its natural resources. The 2026 Tax Code amendments establish “strategic investor” categories with tax incentives tied to mandatory local processing requirements, potentially undermining prior reforms aimed at improving business and investment environment. Recent multi-billion-dollar deals with China highlight escalating competition and a shift toward midstream processing. This panel will examine how the UK, USA, and EU can navigate the tightening regulatory landscape while leveraging Kazakhstan’s established processing advantage to turn high-level diplomacy into technology transfers and offtake agreements to build resilient supply partnerships amid China competition. 

Format: Presentations and panel discussion organised in partnership with Astana International Financial Centre and Solidcore Resources

Session will be held to discuss new financing solutions for geological exploration – a strategic area essential for unlocking Kazakhstan’s vast mineral potential.

To promote long-term industrial growth, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, is implementing a package of financial support measures, including:

• a 100% tax deduction for geological exploration expenses;
• a USD 1 billion credit facility for 2025–2030 aimed at supporting projects in the critical minerals sector.

The AIFC provides:

• a modern and reliable platform for structuring and financing projects;
• a listing framework for junior mining companies at the AIFC Exchange (AIX).
  

Format: Presentations and panel discussion 

Digitalisation of the mining industry in Kazakhstan is a key priority of the state program “Digital Kazakhstan”, aimed at improving the productivity and safety of the industry. The process covers the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and the automation of all stages of production. The announcement of 2026 as the “Year of Artificial Intelligence” indicates that digitalisation in Kazakhstan has gone beyond improving administrative efficiency and has become a pillar of state power and economic competitiveness. The session will demonstrate cases of AI implementation and productivity growth due to Industry 4.0 technologies.

Format: Presentations and panel discussion organised in partnership with Kazakhstan Chamber of Mines

Kazakhstan’s geological relevance is defined by its vast and diverse mineral wealth. The country ranks sixth globally in total mineral reserves, hosting some 5,000 deposits.

The trajectory of the Kazakhstan mining industry over the next three to five years will be defined by its ability to execute the “New Era” strategy. Success requires balancing the state’s desire for higher domestic value addition with the practical needs of international investors. Join explorers leading the hunt for Kazakhstan’s next Tier-1 deposits. Mining companies discuss gold, copper, and critical mineral milestones as discovery accelerates across a study area reaching 2.2 million square kilometres. For the global market, Kazakhstan remains a “Strategic Asset Class”- a credible, resource-rich alternative to higher-risk jurisdictions, provided it can successfully navigate its current regulatory and digital evolution.

Format: Presentations and panel discussion organised in partnership with IMC Montan 

Sustainable development is becoming an integral part of the strategy of Kazakhstan’s mining sector, which is entering a new phase of growth. Over the past five years, private investment in solid mineral exploration has increased 2.5 times, rising from KZT 33.9 billion to KZT 82 billion. At the same time, trends across the metals sector demonstrate a tangible expansion of both the mineral resource base and production. Against this backdrop, ESG factors and the social licence to operate are emerging as essential and interconnected pillars supporting sustainable growth: the former establishes an institutional framework for responsibility and risk management, while the latter reflects the extent to which sectoral growth is genuinely accepted by society, employees, and local communities.

During the session, we will examine how international standards for assessing social and environmental commitments are being adapted to national realities. Experts from IMC Montan will present a methodology linking environmental and social risks with a company’s financial performance. The discussion will also cover the specific features of assessment and assurance mechanisms for environmental and social obligations, alongside practical case studies demonstrating the implementation of selected ESG strategy objectives at operational sites.