Share :

Download PDF :

The Astana Times (11 June 2026)

Aida Haidar

For decades, Kazakhstan’s mining story has been defined by what lies beneath its soil. At the Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress  (AMM) 2026 on June 11, however, the conversation focused on a different question: what happens after the minerals are extracted?

As governments and companies race to secure supplies of critical minerals needed for AI, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, speakers at the congress argued that resource wealth alone is no longer enough. The bigger prize lies in processing, technology, transnational collaboration and talent.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov used the platform to outline Kazakhstan’s ambitions to move beyond its traditional role as a supplier of raw materials. According to him, the country’s strategic goal is to create a new industrial model that will position Kazakhstan not only as a supplier of raw materials, but also as a manufacturer of competitive, value-added products for global markets.

Click for more