Kazakhstan to Develop First Full-Cycle Tungsten Operation with $1.1B Investment

Published: Aug 25, 2026 11:38 (GMT+8)

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[SMM Tungsten Express] Kazakhstan plans to develop the Northern Katpar and Upper Kairakty tungsten deposits into the country's first full-cycle tungsten operation, with ore processed domestically rather than exported as raw material. The two deposits contain combined JORC-compliant reserves of approximately 410,000 metric tons of WO₃ and total resources of 1.4 million tons. U.S.-based Cove Capital (70%) and Kazakh state miner Tau-Ken Samruk (30%) are developing the project, with Cove expected to provide at least $1.1 billion in financing. Planned APT production of approximately 12,000 tpa would represent roughly 15% of current global tungsten mine output. The Definitive Feasibility Study is expected to be completed by end-2027.

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