DBK Launches $1 Billion Program to Develop Rare Earth and Critical Materials Sector
The Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK), part of Baiterek Holding, has unveiled a $1 billion financing program to support projects focused on the extraction and processing of rare and critical materials.
Designed for 2025–2030, the program seeks to accelerate industrial diversification and strengthen Kazakhstan’s global position in high-value materials.
DBK Chairman Marat Yelibayev highlighted the initiative’s role in developing high-tech industries and boosting domestic processing capacity, noting that it aligns with Kazakhstan’s long-term economic strategy.
The program will finance medium and large-scale enterprises in the mining and metallurgical sector, offering long-term loans of up to 20 years and a minimum threshold of 5 billion tenge (about US$9.3 million). Borrowers will also benefit from grace periods during the early stages of project implementation.
Eligible projects must have confirmed reserves under the JORC international standard. Target materials include lanthanides, scandium, yttrium, lithium, cobalt, tungsten, germanium, gallium, and graphite.
According to DBK, the program will stimulate job creation, expand non-resource exports, and promote technological innovation in Kazakhstan’s metallurgy and mining industries.
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