A major mining and metallurgical project is set to be developed at the Akmaya deposit in the Shet District of Kazakhstan’s Karaganda Region. Akmaya Tungsten plans to construct a mining and processing plant (GOK) along with a metallurgical complex that will produce ferrotungsten through a fully integrated production chain — from ore extraction to finished alloy.
The company received a mining license in 2024. Development of the deposit is scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue through 2037. Over the ten-year operating period, the project is expected to process approximately 9.5 million tonnes of ore, equivalent to nearly one million tonnes annually. The operation will process both oxidized and sulfide ores, with projected recovery of around 19,000 tonnes of tungsten trioxide (WO₃). Annual production is expected to reach up to 1,000 tonnes of tungsten concentrate and approximately 1,000 tonnes of ferrotungsten.
For comparison, earlier resource estimates for the Akmaya deposit indicated reserves of 3.6 million tonnes of ore containing slightly more than 10,000 tonnes of tungsten. The new project parameters significantly exceed these historical figures.
The planned production chain will encompass open-pit mining, ore beneficiation, metallurgical processing, and the manufacture of finished ferroalloys. Strong tungsten prices on international markets are helping to support the project’s economics despite its substantial capital requirements.
If implemented successfully, the project could provide Kazakhstan with a modern domestic tungsten industry while creating new jobs and generating additional tax revenues for the region. The project’s long-term performance will depend on stable global tungsten prices and the timely commissioning of planned facilities.
Source: qazba.kz
Image: Press Service of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan
