Kazakhstan Proposes Belgian Rare Earth Processing Partnership to Build European Critical Minerals Supply Chain

Highlights

• Kazakhstan Vice Minister Saparbekov proposed cooperation on rare earth separation, recycling, and advanced materials manufacturing at an October 2024 Astana seminar.
• Kazakhstan claims potential to supply 21 of the EU's 34 critical raw materials, but geological occurrence does not equal commercially qualified supply chains.
• Belgian industrial expertise could help Kazakhstan move beyond concentrate exports into separated oxides and metals, with Antwerp offering key logistics infrastructure.
• A proposed rare earth research center could begin construction in 2027 and operations in 2028, with EBRD supporting preliminary feasibility work.
• The EU's Critical Raw Materials Act 2030 benchmarks increase pressure to establish commercially reliable alternative supply chains beyond China.