{
  "id": 50535,
  "title": "Kazakhstan's billion-dollar rare earths push faces familiar obstacles",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/kazakhstans-billion-dollar-rare-earths-push-faces-familiar-obstacles",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T15:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2026/08/02/kazakhstans-billion-dollar-rare-earths-push-faces-familiar-obstacles/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kazakhstan's efforts to attract foreign investment in its rare earth ambitions face numerous challenges as the country aims to become an alternative to China in the supply chain. While Kazakhstan boasts abundant resources, it remains far behind China in the critical minerals race due to its landlocked location, outdated equipment, and lack of advanced refining capabilities. China controls about 60% of global rare earths output and up to 90% of refining capacity, giving it significant control over global critical minerals and rare earths supply chains. Recent export restrictions on rare earths last year demonstrate China's ability to control these markets, which is currently set to expire in November. The US and other countries are working to diversify their critical mineral supply chains, with public financing commitments for new projects more than quadrupling to $65 billion between 2023 and 2025. Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked nation, possesses significant mineral reserves, including uranium, copper, zinc, lithium, tantalum, and rare earth metals. However, the country's mining industry relies on outdated equipment, lacks processing and separation facilities for rare-earth oxides, and struggles with an unstable regional energy grid. The Middle Corridor, a 4,250km rail route used for exports, adds another layer of difficulty due to its cost and time consumption. Despite these challenges, Kazakhstan has seen a surge in investment since 2018, with mining companies like Rio Tinto and Barrick Gold entering the Kazakh market. However, the industry's low margins, high capital requirements, and lengthy development timelines make it challenging for US capital markets to invest, especially without a durable policy-driven price environment. Furthermore, recent American politics have added an additional challenge, with investigations into critical minerals deals potentially gaining momentum if the Democratic party retakes either or both chambers of Congress in the November elections.",
  "summary": "Kazakhstan’s efforts to attract foreign investment in its rare earth ambitions face a series of challenges as the country seeks to position itself as a viable alternative to China in the supply chain. While Kazakhstan's abundant resources make it an attractive investment destination, it remains well behind China in the critical minerals race because it is landlocked, has Soviet-era equipment and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}