Germany seeks raw-materials partners in Kazakhstan
Berlin and Astana want to deepen energy and raw-materials cooperation, but concrete production agreements are not yet known.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz received Kazakh President Kassym-Schomart Tokajev on Tuesday for talks on energy, raw materials and security. Kazakhstan is offering Germany closer cooperation on critical raw materials and joint production chains.
The German government had announced in advance that energy and raw-materials partnerships would be central to the visit. After the talks, Kazakhstan published a joint statement, but the publicly available text contains no concrete volumes, investment amounts or timetables for new projects.
Before his visit, Tokajev wrote that Kazakhstan extracts 21 of the 34 raw materials that the European Union considers strategically important. Reuters mentions lithium, silicon, cobalt, niobium, tungsten and copper, among others. Such materials are important for batteries, electronics, energy infrastructure and defence production.
According to Reuters, Kazakhstan is proposing the construction of joint value chains: from geological exploration and extraction to processing, component production and reuse. This could give Germany access to more raw materials outside existing supply chains. For Kazakhstan, cooperation with German companies could instead bring more processing and added value within the country.
The announcement is not yet a contract. No public evidence has been found that Germany and Kazakhstan have already agreed on a specific mine, factory or supply volume. Nor is it clear which German companies might be involved in any projects.
The rapprochement fits into Europe’s search for less dependence on a small number of suppliers. At the same time, mining and processing carry risks for water, landscapes, working conditions and local communities. The raw-materials strategy should therefore be assessed not only on supply security, but also on the conditions under which extraction takes place.
The relationship is diplomatically sensitive for Germany as well. Kazakhstan maintains close economic ties with Russia and China, while Berlin is seeking to expand partnerships in Central Asia without creating new dependencies. The sources consulted give no indication that the talks are intended to represent a formal break with existing partners.
The next step will probably be more commercial than ceremonial: companies and governments will have to select projects, arrange financing and establish which environmental standards will apply. Only when such details become public will it be possible to assess whether the announced raw-materials partnership is more than a political intention.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Germany and Kazakhstan discussed energy and raw-materials cooperation.
- Tokajev proposed joint production chains for critical raw materials.
- No concrete project volumes or investment amounts have yet been made public.
Left
Arguments Europe must procure raw materials under strict environmental, labour and human-rights conditions. Strategic autonomy must not mean simply moving polluting extraction to other countries.
Values Justice, ecological limits and the protection of workers and communities.
Consequences Higher project costs and slower permit procedures, but less risk of social harm and environmental liabilities.
Centre
Arguments Diversifying suppliers is sensible, provided projects are assessed transparently and European standards are established contractually. Cooperation can add value in Kazakhstan while also helping German industry become more sustainable.
Values Supply security, international cooperation and institutional oversight.
Consequences More stable supplies and economic opportunities, with additional monitoring and implementation costs.
Right
Arguments Germany must gain rapid access to raw materials to keep its industry, energy sector and defence competitive. Overly stringent European conditions could drive investment towards China or other markets; national interests and commercial viability must take precedence.
Values Economic growth, strategic autonomy, competitiveness and national security.
Consequences Faster projects and potentially lower costs, but a greater risk of dependence on regimes and inadequate environmental protection.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The meeting and the intended cooperation were confirmed by government sources and independent reporting. The article does not present announced cooperation as a concluded contract and explicitly identifies which commercial details are missing.
- confirmed Merz received Tokajev in Berlin on 29 September. — The German government announced the meeting and described the subjects to be discussed. source
- confirmed Kazakhstan is offering Germany cooperation on critical raw materials and joint production. — According to Reuters and Interfax-Kazakhstan, Tokajev made this proposal. source
- confirmed Kazakhstan extracts 21 of the 34 raw materials that are strategically important to Europe. — This figure appears in Tokajev’s statement as reported by Reuters. source
- confirmed No concrete volumes, amounts or timetables have yet been made public. — The government and news sources consulted do not mention those details. source
Editor's note
The visit and the subjects discussed were confirmed by the German government. The raw-materials ambitions come mainly from statements by Tokajev and Reuters; concrete projects, amounts and supply agreements have not yet been made public.Sources
- Bundeskanzler Merz empfängt den Präsidenten der Republik Kasachstan, Tokajew — Bundesregierung Duitsland
- Kasachstan bietet Deutschland vor Staatsbesuch engere Rohstoffpartnerschaft an — Reuters via MarketScreener
- Kazakhstan, Germany could launch joint production using critical raw materials - Tokayev — Interfax-Kazakhstan
- Joint declaration of the presidents of Kazakhstan and Germany — Central Communications Service Kazakhstan
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „duitsland kazachstan”
- De Telegraaf — „duitsland kazachstan”
- Trouw — „duitsland kazachstan”