The US has secured access to one of the world’s largest undeveloped tungsten deposits in Kazakhstan, advancing President Donald Trump’s drive to reduce China’s grip on critical minerals, while a report by The New York Times says the deal was used by the families of Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for personal enrichment.
The agreement grants US-backed Kaz Resources a 70% interest in a major tungsten project in central Kazakhstan, with the state-owned mining firm Tau-Ken Samruk retaining the remaining 30%.
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If fully developed, the mine could produce about 12,000 metric tons of tungsten a year, roughly equivalent to total annual US imports of the strategic metal.
Often dubbed the “war metal,” tungsten is valued for its exceptional hardness and heat resistance, making it a critical material for missile warheads, fighter aircraft, armor-piercing ammunition, semiconductors and other advanced military-related tech.
China dominates global tungsten production and has tightened export controls on several critical minerals over the past year, intensifying Washington’s urgency to secure alternative supplies.
The Kazakhstan project is seeking up to $1.6 billion (€1.4 billion) in financing from the US Export-Import Bank and the US International Development Finance Corporation after receiving backing from the Trump administration.
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