DBK Launches a New Large-Scale Financing Programme

JSC Development Bank of Kazakhstan (a subsidiary of the Baiterek holding, hereinafter – DBK, the Bank) is launching a Programme for financing projects in the extraction and processing of rare, rare-earth, and Critical Materials for 2025–2030, with a total budget of USD 1 billion.

The new Programme is designed to become a key instrument for implementing mining and metallurgical projects in the field of rare-earth and critical material processing, in line with the strategic course set out by the President  in this year’s Address, particularly in relation to the development and launch of high-tech industries.

Its main objective is to support medium and large enterprises implementing investment projects in this strategically important sector of Kazakhstan’s economy.

Among the key advantages and conditions of the Programme are the minimum financing amount, which has been reduced to 5 billion tenge (in any currency – US dollars, euros, yuan, and others), with a term of up to 20 years; no commission fees for arranging or amending financing terms; and the provision of a grace period.

The relevance of DBK’s Programme is underpinned by the strategic importance of developing the rare and critical materials processing sector to help diversify Kazakhstan’s industry and integrate the country into global value chains and trade networks.

In addition, the Programme directly contributes to the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of the Rare and Rare-Earth Metals Industry for 2024–2028.

“The launch of this Programme reflects the Bank’s strategic focus on supporting new growth drivers in the economy. We are creating the conditions for Kazakhstan to become a producer of high value-added finished products. This will help form new technological chains, enhance the competitiveness of domestic industry, and strengthen the country’s position in the global market for critical materials,”– noted Marat Yelibayev, Chairman of the Management Board of the Development Bank of Kazakhstan.

Financing will be provided to projects in the metallurgical sector, including those within the mining and metallurgical complex that involve processing. A mandatory requirement for borrowers is the confirmation of reserves under the international JORC code.

The list of eligible materials includes rare-earth metals (lanthanides, scandium, yttrium) as well as critical materials such as lithium, cobalt, tungsten, germanium, gallium, graphite, and others that are in demand in high technologies, green energy, and electronics.

The implementation of the Programme aims to create momentum for Kazakhstan’s technological and industrial development. For DBK, this means expanding its portfolio of long-term projects in high-tech sectors, improving the quality of investments, and enhancing the stability of financial flows.

For Kazakhstan’s economy, it represents new jobs, growth in exports of high value-added products, deeper domestic processing of raw materials, and the strengthening of the country’s reputation as a reliable supplier of rare and critical materials on the global market.