Key facts
- UAE-based MQ Emirates secured a 25-year license for a coal mining project in eastern Kazakhstan.
- The Kenderlyk deposit has estimated recoverable reserves of 940,000t.
- Coal production is expected to commence in 2028, with operations continuing until 2050.
- Initial output is forecast at 10,000 t/yr, rising to 50,000 t/yr by 2034.
- The project involves open-pit mining of high-ash content coal.
UAE-based private-sector company MQ Emirates has secured a 25-year license for a large-scale coal project in eastern Kazakhstan, near the Chinese border. The license permits the company to commence coal mining operations at the Kenderlyk deposit.
Geological exploration is slated to begin this year, with coal production anticipated to start in 2028 and continue until 2050. Initial output is projected at 10,000 tonnes per year, with plans to increase to 50,000 tonnes per year by 2034. The deposit holds an estimated 940,000 tonnes of recoverable reserves, part of a total of approximately 11.3 million tonnes across three seams.
MQ Emirates will develop coal field no. 1, which contains coal with a high ash content of 35-40%, utilizing open-pit mining methods. This investment aligns with Kazakhstan's strategy to attract foreign interest and develop its coal sector, which has already seen investments from Russia, China, Germany, and the US this year.
Kazakhstan intends to produce around 128.9 million tonnes of coal this year, primarily for domestic consumption, while also aiming to increase exports, particularly to Poland, a significant European consumer of Kazakh coal.