The National Geological Service says the country has lithium reserves of around 75,600 tons.
Kazakhstan is positioning itself as an important potential global supplier of high-quality lithium just as demand surges for the mineral, which is indispensable for the booming power-storage technology industry. The auspices are good, although few firm investment commitments have materialized.
Speaking at a conference in Seoul on March 5, researchers from the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources announced that they had discovered sizable lithium reserves in an area of eastern Kazakhstan.
Experts from the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, or KIGAM, quoted by The Korea Times said mineral deposits in the 1.6 square kilometer Bakennoye deposit, where tantalum was previously mined and which has been subject of exploration work since May, contains mineral resources worth up to $15.7 billion.
KIGAM reportedly intends to apply jointly with a South Korean company for permission to conduct further drilling investigations at the site next year. That discovery stands to consolidate Kazakhstan’s position as a strong emerging source of lithium.
For the rest of this article: https://eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-positions-itself-for-lithium-windfall