Benkala Copper Project
- eminbayya
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Project Description: A strategic MoU was signed in April 2025 between the Akimat of Aktobe Region, China Nonferrous Mining Co., Ltd, and SM Minerals Ltd (AIFC-registered Kazakh company) to jointly develop the Benkala copper deposit. The agreement commits all parties to advance large-scale copper mining at Benkala, a significant porphyry copper deposit in western Kazakhstan. If implemented, the project is expected to attract foreign investment, create new jobs and boost Aktobe’s industrial output. It was facilitated by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and the Kazakh Embassy in Beijing
Current Status: Memorandum of Understanding signed (April 2025). The project is in the planning/pre-feasibility stage. No mining or construction work has officially started as of 2025.
Start Date: 2025 (date of Memorandum of Understanding signature).
End Date: – (no official completion date published).
Investment Volume: Not disclosed (no public figure announced).
Location: Benkala copper deposit, Ayteke Bi district, Aktobe Region, Kazakhstan
Company Details
LLP "SM MINERALS"
Role: Kazakh project partner and copper producer
Address: 34/1 Erzhanov Street, Kazybek Bi District, Karaganda City, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan
Phone: +7 (705) 622-28-30
Phone: +7 (721) 292-27-27
Phone: +7 (705) 230-12-38
Website: https://eurasiacopper.kz
China Nonferrous Mining Co., Ltd.
Role: Chinese mining investor and strategic partner
Address: China Nonferrous Metal Building, No. 10 Anding Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
Phone: +86 10-8442-6373
Phone: (852) 9519 7870
Email: hk1258-ir@cnmc.com.cn
Website: https://www.cnmcl.net
Other important details:The Benkala deposit was previously explored by Kazakh and foreign companies (Frontier Mining/Kazakhmys). This new partnership underlines the strategic role of the AIFC in attracting Chinese investment to Kazakhstan. The project is expected to complement other regional copper initiatives (e.g. modernization of the Avangard deposit plant) and fits Kazakhstan’s push to expand copper output
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