In eastern Kazakhstan, there is the Kalba-Narym metallogenic zone with rare-metal mineralization with identified deposits of rare metals, including those containing lithium-bearing ores in pegmatites and granitoids. From the 1930s to the 1990s, these areas were heavily mined for tin, tantalum and fluorite. Lithium was identified, but it was not mined due to limited demand. Since 2023, several companies, including companies with European, British and American participation, started exploring for lithium in this region and the results already allow to count on the confirmation of commercially significant reserves of lithium-bearing ores, including the spodumene form of lithium mineralization.

Taza Metal is negotiating with several companies already engaged in lithium exploration in this region to acquire stakes in subsoil users and organize the supply of spodumene concentrates for processing into high-purity lithium carbonate. Lithium carbonate production can be organized in Stepnogorsk with partial use of the existing production facilities of Taza Metal and the existing liquid waste storages, at a cost several times lower compared to the construction of lithium carbonate or hydroxide production at a new location.

Kazakhstan has significant reserves of nickel-cobalt raw materials, mainly in laterite (oxide-silicate) ores. The total nickel reserves in Kazakhstan are estimated as 3 million tons of nickel. Laterite deposits are located mainly in northern and partly in western Kazakhstan. Taza Metal has already carried out test processing of ore from selected laterite deposits in Kazakhstan and the possibility of obtaining of high-purity nickel sulphate and cobalt sulphate has been confirmed.

Taza Metal is studying the possibility of organizing a cost-effective method of processing laterite ores in Kazakhstan to produce nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate and intermediate product, the MHP (mixed hydroxide precipitate). Given the possibility of providing hydrometallurgical production with low-cost sulphuric acid, the processing of Kazakh laterites can be cost-effective, despite the relatively low nickel content in the primary ore. As an alternative, the possibility of processing imported MHP at the first stage is being considered.

Iron Phosphate is the main component by weight in the production of the main alternative kind of lithium-ion batteries, the LFP (lithium – iron – phosphate) and the next generation kind of batteries with the growing application, the LMFP (lithium – manganese – iron – phosphate). LFP and LMFP batteries are generally cheaper than LNCM batteries, and there is a clear trend in the traction lithium-ion battery market for increase of the share of LFP/LMFP batteries application.

The production of Iron Phosphate can be organized using high-purity orthophosphoric acid produced in Kazakhstan, or at the initial stage with use of the imported high-purity monoammonium phosphate (MAP.61). Various sources can be considered as a source of iron to produce Iron Phosphate obtained as a secondary product in the processing of the manganese or nickel ores. Within the framework of the Manganese Hub, it is planned to produce iron hydroxide as a by-product, which makes it possible to produce Iron Phosphate

Even though copper is not a metal with limited supply and not scarce, copper is certainly a critical metal for the green energy transition. If technologies for components of the lithium-ion batteries are rapidly developing and changing, and the level of growth in the consumption of individual components can be difficult to predict, there is no alternative to the use of copper wire in the winding of electric motors. For example, an average of 23 kg of copper is used in the production of one car with an internal combustion engine, and an average of 84 kg of copper is used in the production of an electric car. It is the growth of copper consumption in electric motors that is one of the main drivers of growth in demand for copper.

In Kazakhstan, there is significant potential for discoveries of new copper deposits that are profitable for development. Taza Metal is currently considering investing in copper projects with oxidized copper that can be processed using SX-EW technology to produce high-purity cathode copper. About 10 projects have already been implemented in Kazakhstan using SX-EW technologies, and the existing market conditions make it possible to obtain cathode copper at a low cost. Participation in copper projects can become an additional driver of the company's sustainable development.