Bangladesh, March 2 -- The mining sector in Kazakhstan, especially non-fuel, is in a constant state of mired controversies. Coupled with Kazakhstans slow opening to the West and growing ethnic nationalism, Russias interests in the country is being challenged.

Aurora Minerals Group, which advertises itself as a “full-chain exploration service provider in Kazakhstan and Central Asia” and was founded by so-called veterans of Kazakhstans minerals industry, Kaisar Kozhamuratov and Said Sultanov, is the latest to be embroiled in scandal after being implicated in funnelling investors money straight into the founders pockets. These stories of embezzlement and fraud have become the defining features of Kazakhstans mining sector.

The ...