Engineering consortium appointed for Northern Katpar
Cove Kaz Capital Group, a U.S.-based developer that holds a 70% controlling interest in the Northern Katpar tungsten project in Kazakhstan through Severniy Katpar LLP, announced on August 3, 2026 that it has engaged a consortium of global engineering firms to lead the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) at the site. The study commenced in July 2026 and is scheduled for completion before the end of 2027. DRA Global has been appointed lead contractor and will oversee mineral processing, while ERM will handle geology, mine planning and environmental and social frameworks, and Knight Piésold will lead geotechnical, hydrology and tailings storage work. All three firms have been named as preferred contractors subject to execution of definitive agreements.
Project scale, output and ownership
The DFS is intended to develop the overall mine plan for Northern Katpar and to inform construction of an accompanying refinery in Kazakhstan designed to produce ammonium paratungstate (APT). Feasibility studies completed in April 2023 reported total JORC-compliant mineral resources containing 1.4 million tonnes of tungsten trioxide (WO3) at assets held by Severniy Katpar LLP. Kazakhstan's national mining company, JSC Tau-Ken Samruk, holds the remaining 30% interest and has contributed extensive historical work that will support the DFS. As activity shifts to the DFS phase, Cove Kaz Capital Group is beginning development work on a second tungsten deposit known as Upper Kairakty, located approximately 25 kilometers from Northern Katpar.
Financing pathway and U.S. supply rationale
According to the company, the DFS is structured to support a Final Investment Decision and to satisfy due diligence requirements of prospective financing partners, including the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), other U.S. institutional finance entities and commercial partners. Executive Chairman Pini Althaus said the company aims to become "a leading, commercially successful supplier of tungsten to the United States," citing what he described as an acute current supply deficit and a significant medium- to long-term shortage that existing mines, including those in China, cannot resolve.
Leadership and execution
The DFS contractors will work alongside Cove Kaz Capital Group's in-house team led by Chief Executive Officer Dominic Heaton, whom the company credits with having led development of the Nui Phao integrated tungsten mine and refinery in Vietnam, described as the largest tungsten operation outside of China. Heaton said the DFS engagement follows site preparation that started in July and builds on planning completed since the acquisition of the controlling interest in Severniy Katpar in April 2026, which the company characterized as the product of a months-long competitive evaluation process.
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