Does PONEN control the market of services of Competent Persons in Kazakhstan?

Such statements can be heard today in the mining industry. What are they based on?

Firstly, there is an increase in prices for the services of Competent Persons who have received QMR accreditation. The increase in prices today is an objective reality associated with the high level of inflation and the rise in the cost of living in Kazakhstan. This is a process that PONEN has not influenced and cannot influence. Competent Persons who have received recognition from PONEN may well feel more in demand and request higher payment for their services. PONEN, as a public organization, cannot hinder this process or recommend any standard prices, since objects and situations always differ, and the scope of work in consulting cannot be standardized.

If questions arise regarding the cost of services of Competent Persons (QMR), PONEN is always ready to consider each request individually. We adhere to the principle of fair pricing: the work of qualified geologists must be adequately paid, while at the same time, an unjustified increase in the cost of their services is unacceptable.

Secondly, there is dissatisfaction with the very fact of introducing QMR accreditation. Why were report readers and then QMR accreditation for Competent Persons introduced in Kazakhstan? The initiative to introduce first readership (since 2022) and then QMR accreditation (since 2023) was implemented in agreement with the Competent Authority for Subsoil Use as a preventive measure due to the low quality of many reports of Competent Persons submitted to the Geology Committee for registering Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves with the state.

The purpose of these measures is to stimulate the improvement of the professional level of PONEN Competent Persons and increase their responsibility for the quality of reports. Numerous interviews with QMR candidates noted the real desire of many specialists to develop professional competencies.

In the matter of accreditation, it is important to understand two issues.

1. Who carries out accreditation and who decides on its issuance?
Accreditation is carried out by a special QMR commission. This is not a fixed team of specialists. For each interview, interviewers are selected based on two principles:

• significant international experience in specific types of work and types of mineral raw materials;
• no conflict of interest with the specialist being interviewed.

Thus, the commission, as a rule, includes from 3 to 5 people (sometimes more), many of whom live and work outside the Republic of Kazakhstan, while being members of PONEN.

2. Both reading and QMR are international practices that comply with CRIRSCO standards in terms of checking reports and requirements for the qualification and registration of Competent Persons.
In Kazakhstan, QMR was adapted from the example of the UK, and similar systems operate in Canada, the USA and other developed countries.

Relaxation of requirements for Mineral Resources and Reserves reports may lead to Kazakhstan losing its position as a regional leader in attracting investment in geological exploration.

PONEN Open Master Class at MINEX Kazakhstan

📅 Date and time: April 9, 2025, 16:00–17:30
 📍  Venue: Radisson Astana Hotel, Saryarka Avenue, 4, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan. Hall "Saryarka 1"
🔗 Map: https://go.2gis.com/gBtM6
📜 Seminar program: https://2025.minexkazakhstan.com/ru/forum-agenda/master-klass-ponen/

Members of the PONEN Executive Committee will be present at the event, with whom you can discuss these and many other issues.

 💡 Admission to the master class is free.
✍ Registration: https://2025.minexkazakhstan.com/ru/registracziya-posetitelya-vystavki/