BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 10
By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:
Kazakhstan is planning to hold geological exploration on 25 land plots before 2025, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources Serikkali Brekeshev said, Trend reports citing Kazinform.
In terms of hydrocarbons, Kazakh geologists identified 15 sedimentary basins with predicted equivalent fuel resources of about 76 billion tons. The degree of study of sedimentary basins is different, of which 5 are developed, 5 are poorly studied, and 5 are not promising. He noted that the entire volume of oil and gas production is carried out at five developed basins. Of these, the largest is the Caspian region, which accounts for about 80 percent of the country's resource base.
“The study of such little-studied basins as the North Torgai, Aral and Syrdarya, Priirtysh, Shu-Sarysu is also planned at the expense of the state. To date, as a result of regional geological studies, numerous areas have been identified that are potentially promising for the identification of deposits of various types of minerals - ferrous, non-ferrous and noble metals, non-metallic and hydrocarbon raw materials,” he said.
He further noted that to assess the raw material potential of five under-studied sedimentary basins - North Turgai, Priirtysh, Aral, Syrdarya, Shu-Sarysu – the ministry has planned a set of measures aimed at expanding the resource base of Kyzylorda, Kostanay, Turkestan and Pavlodar regions.
“There are prospects for the discovery of new gold deposits in Akmola and Kostanay regions, as well as in the central, eastern and southern regions of the country. New lead-zinc deposits can be discovered in Central and South Kazakhstan, in Rudny Altai,” the vice minister said.
He also noted the prospects for the discovery of new deposits of tungsten, molybdenum, aluminum, tin and rare earths.
“In recent years, given the current trends in the world market and the increased demand for rare and rare earth metals, including lithium, special attention is being paid to the exploration of this type of raw material,” he explained.
For example, prospecting and appraisal works were carried out at the Akhmirovsky site in Eastern Kazakhstan, which is cost-effective for open pit development.
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