Jiangxi Copper Opens First Tungsten Open-Pit Mine in Kazakhstan

Jiangxi Copper

China's Jiangxi Copper Launches Groundbreaking Tungsten Mine in Kazakhstan

In a significant development for the global mining industry, China's Jiangxi Copper, in partnership with Hong Kong's Jiaxin International Resource Investment, has inaugurated Kazakhstan's first tungsten open-pit mine. This new venture, located at the Boguta tungsten deposit, marks a monumental investment in the country’s mining sector, valued at $300 million. With the mining complex's operational capacity set to reach 3.3 million tons per year, the project is expected to produce around 10,000 tons annually of 65% tungsten concentrate.

The project will also undergo further expansion with the construction of a deep processing facility designed to refine tungsten to 88.5%, enabling the production of high-purity tungsten carbide. The total investment in the facility is projected to be $150 million. Confirmed reserves at the site are estimated to be approximately 120 million tons, cementing the mine's long-term potential as a critical player in global tungsten production.

A Collaborative International Effort

This ambitious project is a collaboration among several major players. In addition to Jiangxi Copper and Jiaxin International, China Railway Construction, China Civil Engineering Construction, and Ever Trillion International from Singapore are also involved. Kazakhstan's national investment company, Kazakh Invest, has contributed $50 million to the project, underscoring the strategic importance of this venture for Kazakhstan's economy.

This new mine is set to strengthen the economic ties between China and Kazakhstan. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during a recent visit to Shanghai, outlined plans to double bilateral trade turnover with China, which reached an impressive $41 billion last year. The two countries have already signed agreements in multiple sectors, including metallurgy, energy, and machinery, which signal the growing influence of China in Kazakhstan's economic landscape.