By ASTANA. Nov 6 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has invited France to cooperate in extracting and processing critical minerals, the presidential press service said on Wednesday.
“As the global technological revolution continues, demand for rare metals will grow exponentially. By 2040, overall demand for them is expected to quadruple, and demand for lithium to grow tenfold. Kazakhstan, where there are about 5,000 unexplored fields worth over $46 trillion, could be a reliable partner for jointly developing this niche,” Tokayev said at a Kazakh-French business forum on Wednesday.
“We currently produce 16 out of 30 rare-earth elements essential for the EU’s economy and cover 70% of the European market’s needs for phosphorus. We have deposits of nine other types of minerals that could be developed, provided the required investment is made. We invite French companies to join this mutually beneficial partnership,” Tokayev said.
