UAE-based private-sector company MQ Emirates has obtained a 25-year licence to a large-scale coal project in eastern Kazakhstan, according to Kazakh government documents released last week.
The licence will allow MQ Emirates to start coal mining operations at the Kenderlyk deposit, which is close to Kazakhstan's border with China. Geological exploration will start this year and coal production is expected to begin from 2028, with full-scale operations continuing until 2050. Initial output is expected at 10,000 t/yr, before increasing to 50,000 t/yr by 2034, the documents show. Recoverable reserves are estimated at 940,000t.
The Kenderlyk deposit has around 11.3mn t of coal reserves across three coal-bearing seams, according to Kazakhstan's National Geological Service. MQ Emirates will be developing coal field no. 1, which has high-ash content coal, at around 35-40pc. The firm will use open-pit mining.
The investment is part of a recent round of foreign interest in Kazakhstan's coal industry, as the government pushes for more development in the sector. It has attracted major investments from Russia, China, Germany and the US this year so far.
Kazakhstan plans to produce around 128.9mn t of coal this year, most of which is to meet domestic demand. It is aiming to boost its exports to various countries, especially Poland, which remains the largest European consumer of Kazkh coal.
