How long will Kazakhstan’s oil and gold reserves last

Tengrinews.kz – How long will Kazakhstan’s oil, gold, and other resources last? This question was answered by Kanat Yerubaev, Acting Chairman of the Geology Committee at the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development.

At a briefing with journalists, Yerubaev was asked about the measures Kazakhstan will take once its natural resources are exhausted.

“Honestly, the question is incorrect — when people ask how many years the resources will last. Because exploration is always ongoing, reserves are being replenished, and the government conducts geological surveys to increase reserves,” Yerubaev replied.

Despite this, Yerubaev provided approximate figures on reserves and timelines.

"Approximately, we have more than 4 billion tons of oil on state records. With current production volumes, these reserves will last for about 50 years. As for gold, as far as I remember, we have 2,300 tons of gold on state records. With current production volumes, these reserves will last for about 37 years,” he added.

Last summer, the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development provided similar statistics on Kazakhstan’s mineral resources. According to the ministry, at the current extraction levels, the estimated supply for major minerals in Kazakhstan is as follows:

• Gold: 30 years
• Copper: 38 years
• Lead: 156 years
• Iron ore: 957 years
• Coal: 350 years