The Memorandum of Understanding was signed today in Astana by Bakyt Chirchikbayev, the Chairman of the Management Board of JSC NGK Tau-Ken Samruk, Kimberly Harrington, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the Bureau of Energy Resources of the US Department of State, and Yerlan Galiyev, the Chairman of the Management Board of National Geological Survey JSC.

The document provides for an independent assessment of rare metal resources and the investment potential of the Aral region, including sampling, hydrological and laboratory analyses, geochemical studies in the Kalba-Narym belt, as well as a financial analysis of the Kazakh mineral resources sector in terms of taxation, transfer pricing, etc.

According to the preliminary agreements reached, at the first stage of cooperation, the U.S. Department of State will provide support in terms of technical expertise, UGQ will provide access to available historical geological data, JSC NMC Tau-Ken Samruk will own licenses for geological exploration of the subsoil.