South Korea to Mine 25,000 Tons of Lithium in Kazakhstan... Full-Scale Push for Central Asia Core Mineral Supply

KIGAM Plans Joint Drilling in Bakennoye by 2027
Nickel and Cobalt Development in Uzbekistan Also Underway

South Korea is set to embark on joint exploration and development projects targeting lithium in Kazakhstan and nickel and cobalt in Uzbekistan. By combining Korea’s expertise in exploration, concentration, and refining technologies, the country aims to verify resource quantities and economic viability, ultimately paving the way for investment and development by domestic companies and kickstarting the establishment of a core mineral supply chain in Central Asia.

The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) announced on the 16th that, as part of the Korea–Central Asia Summit, it will expand cooperation on core mineral joint exploration and technology development with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Joint geological survey by KIGAM and Kazgeorogi, the Kazakhstani state-owned mineral exploration company, conducted in 2023 in the Bakeno region of Kazakhstan. Provided by KIGAM

The most concrete project concerns the Bakennoye lithium deposit in Kazakhstan. On September 14, KIGAM signed a framework agreement for joint geological research and drilling with Kazakhstan’s state mining enterprise Tau-Ken Samruk and GRK Ognevsky GOK, the mining rights holder for the Bakennoye lithium deposit.

Under the agreement, the three parties will first develop a geological survey and exploration plan targeting both the Bakennoye lithium deposit and its tailings, before launching a joint drilling campaign in 2027. The results of the drilling will be analyzed collaboratively, and options for expanding cooperation toward actual mining development will also be considered.

Since 2023, KIGAM has conducted geological and ore deposit surveys, soil geochemical investigations, and drone-based geophysical prospecting in the region, resulting in the creation of a three-dimensional geological model. Based on these efforts, the potential lithium resource was estimated at approximately 25,000 tons—enough for batteries in about 3.3 million electric vehicles.

From Exploration to Refining: Uzbekistan’s Nickel and Cobalt

In Uzbekistan, the focus shifts to nickel and cobalt. On September 12, KIGAM signed a cooperation agreement with the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Geology and Mineral Resources for the development of core minerals.

The two sides will carry out geological exploration and research and development (R&D) in the promising Sultanbobo region, sharing geological and mineral data. Outcomes from joint research will be provided to the industry, while the participation of companies from both countries in core mineral development will also be promoted.

Since last year, KIGAM has been working with Uzbekistan’s state-owned mineral resource developer TMK to evaluate exploration and technology development possibilities for nickel and cobalt deposits in the Sultanbobo area. Moving forward, the plan is to identify ore deposit distributions and potential resource volumes, and to proceed in stages with the development of processing and refining technologies, as well as business feasibility studies.

This cooperation is focused not just on joint research but also on linking to actual resource development and corporate investment. The vision is to create a collaborative model that brings together Central Asian mineral resources with Korea’s exploration, evaluation, processing, and refining technologies—enabling a cycle of “exploration → evaluation → development → corporate participation.”

KIGAM President Kwon Lee-Gyun stated, “Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are important strategic partners with abundant core mineral resources and high development potential. Based on our full-cycle technological capabilities, we will expand cooperation on core minerals with Central Asia and contribute to the stability of Korea’s supply chain and the strengthening of national resource security.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.