Kazakhstan has lifted a four year freeze on issuing new mineral exploration licences to develop new deposits, and has invited investors to start bidding in May for rights to develop the large mineral wealth. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev urged the government to lift the ban, which expired last year. Kazakhstan is estimated to have the second largest uranium, chromium, lead and zinc reserves in the world as well as large quantities of manganese, copper, coal, iron and gold. Kazakh Industry and New Technologies Minister, Aset Isekeshev said “In May we will start accepting bids from potential investors for an open tender for licences of mineral deposits.”