Alex Walker, CEO of the British company East Star Resources, speaking at the GEOSCIENCE & EXPLORATION CENTRAL ASIA forum in Astana, said that Kazakhstan’s geological potential resembles Western Australia. At the same time, the cost of exploration in the republic is much lower, and the history of mining goes back centuries. Walker is convinced that many previous subsoil users overlooked promising areas, and now the company intends to correct this using new technologies.
East Star Resources uses artificial intelligence to process historical data, including Soviet reports and maps. Using optical character recognition (OCR) systems, documents can be translated and digitized with almost 100% accuracy, saving years of work. In addition, the company uses aeromagnetic and gravity imaging, induced polarization, satellite imagery and mass spectrometry methods (ICPMS). This helps identify hidden structures and zones of mineralization that previously went unnoticed.
Walker refuted the widespread belief that all deposits have already been found in Kazakhstan at a depth of less than 300 meters. According to him, modern models exploration of epithermal and porphyry systems, as well as geochemical zoning, make it possible to discover new deposits. The company has already received encouraging results in eastern Kazakhstan.
At the end of 2025, East Star signed a joint venture agreement with China’s Hong Kong Xinhai Mining Services Limited. The Chinese partner will invest approximately $65 million in drilling, feasibility studies and construction of the mine. In stages, Xinhai’s share in the joint venture could rise to 70 percent, while East Star would retain 100 percent of other prospective areas, including Ruliha with 23 million tons of copper ore (2.4 percent copper grade).
Thanks to the combination of a rich historical heritage, a favorable investment climate and advanced technologies, Kazakhstan is becoming one of the most attractive regions for junior exploration companies. The influx of foreign direct investment and job creation are clear benefits for the local economy.
Source: Qazba
Image: East Star Resources
