A ceremony marking the start of implementation of the Northern Katpar Project was held at the Northern Katpar deposit. The event was attended by Deputy Akim of the Karaganda Region Shyngys Suyunbayev, representatives of Cove Kaz Capital Group, JSC Tau-Ken Samruk National Mining Company, government agencies, industry organizations, contractors and the local community.
The ceremony marked the project’s transition from the preparatory stage to on-site implementation. Site preparation works at Northern Katpar began in July 2026. Surveying is currently underway, access roads and drilling pads are being prepared, and the required field infrastructure is being established.
At the same time, work has commenced on the project’s Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), which is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. The DFS will define the final parameters for mine development and processing capacity and will serve as the basis for the final investment decision.
Dominic Heaton, Chief Executive Officer of Cove Kaz Capital Group, emphasized that the investor’s ambition extends beyond the development of a single deposit.
“Today, we are beginning the industrial implementation of the Northern Katpar Project. Our ambition is not simply to develop a mine, but to help build a modern, internationally competitive tungsten mining and processing industry here in Kazakhstan. This means investing in processing and creating added value within the country, creating new jobs, developing professional capabilities and enabling Kazakh companies to participate in the project’s supply chain. Cove Kaz Capital Group brings international mining experience, access to capital, technology and global markets, while Tau-Ken Samruk brings deep knowledge of Kazakhstan, its mining sector and national industrial priorities,” said Dominic Heaton.
“Today, we are moving into a new stage of implementation of the Northern Katpar Project. Together with Cove Kaz Capital Group, we aim to establish a full production cycle in Kazakhstan, from ore extraction through to metallurgical processing and the production of high value-added tungsten products. We see this as an example of successful international partnership that attracts investment and technology to Kazakhstan and creates new opportunities for the development of domestic industry,” said Daniyar Idrissov, Chief Investment and Strategy Officer of JSC Tau-Ken Samruk National Mining Company.
Northern Katpar forms part of an integrated project to develop the Northern Katpar and Verkhneye Kairakty deposits. Current estimates put total investment in the development of the two deposits and the creation of mining and processing infrastructure at approximately USD 1.1 billion. At the current stage, Cove Kaz Capital Group is financing on-site works, the drilling program and preparation of the DFS.
According to the most recent feasibility study, completed in April 2023, the combined mineral resources of Northern Katpar and Verkhneye Kairakty under the JORC standard amount to approximately 1.4 million tonnes of tungsten trioxide (WO₃). As part of the current DFS, geological and technical data will be updated and the development parameters of the deposits will be refined.
Based on current estimates, Northern Katpar could support annual production of approximately 5,000 tonnes of tungsten products, while Verkhneye Kairakty could produce around 7,000 tonnes per year. The combined potential output of the two deposits is estimated at approximately 12,000 tonnes annually, equivalent to around 15% of current global tungsten mine production.
A key element of the project is the establishment of a full production cycle in Kazakhstan, with deep processing of raw materials within the country. The project provides for ore extraction and beneficiation followed by chemical and metallurgical processing.
At this stage, ammonium paratungstate (APT) is being considered as the main product of the future processing facility. APT is a high-purity intermediate product used in the production of tungsten oxides and powders, tungsten carbide, hard alloys and other materials for high-technology industries.
Following completion of the DFS, the project is expected to proceed to FEED (Front-End Engineering Design), followed by detailed engineering and construction. According to the project plan, main construction works are expected to begin in 2028, followed by commissioning activities from 2029.
The implementation of the Northern Katpar Project is expected to establish a new production value chain in Kazakhstan’s critical minerals sector, extending from raw material extraction to the production of high value-added products. The project also provides for the creation of new jobs, the development of skills and expertise among Kazakh specialists, and broader participation of domestic companies in supplying goods and services for the project’s mining and processing infrastructure.