Kazakhstan intends to develop the copper and aluminum processing industries.
May 22, 2026
According to Arman Kassenov, the Deputy Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan has the potential to launch a series of projects related to copper, bauxite, alumina and aluminum processing, with a total value ranging from 10 billion to 12 billion US dollars.
Kassenov stated that copper is the second most valuable industry with significant added value in Kazakhstan's metallurgical sector, after gold. However, he noted that currently, the country's copper exports - the vast majority (approximately 97%) - are unprocessed or only minimally processed copper.
Kassenov stated that Kazakhstan can develop projects for the production of ultra-thin copper foils and other products used in batteries and electric vehicles.
Kassenov also stated that Kazakhstan has the potential to build at least one large-scale modern copper smelting plant. This can be accomplished either by domestic companies independently or through cooperation with leading international companies.
Furthermore, Kassenov pointed out that Kazakhstan has abundant reserves of bauxite, which can be processed into alumina. However, only one-third of the alumina is processed into primary aluminum at the Pavlodar smelter, while the rest is exported. He also added that the existing alumina processing plant of Eurasian Resources Group (the owner of the Pavlodar smelter) is currently operating at full capacity.
To fully exploit this potential, Kassenov proposed establishing a complete industrial chain in Kazakhstan from alumina to aluminum processing, along with the construction of facilities for wire, cable, rolled products and other metal manufacturing. He stated that such projects would require an investment of between 5 billion and 6 billion US dollars.
