Kazakhstan’s mining industry is thriving as rising gold and commodity prices drive exploration, investment, and legislative reform. Among the country’s leading players, RG Gold is charting a growth path that blends operational expansion, safety leadership, and employee development while preparing for its transition into a global gold operator.
Deputy CEO and CFO Marat Shaimardanov said recent government reforms, including a new royalty-based tax code and deregulation of mining laws, have spurred fresh activity. “There’s a lot of deregulation happening for the mining industry, which is reflected by its current increased activity,” he noted.
Operational Growth and Heap Leach Revival
RG Gold has restarted its heap leach operations after exploration revealed remaining potential, buoyed by higher gold prices. The site is expected to run for another five years. Meanwhile, the company’s carbon-in-pulp (CIP) plant, built in 2022, has been upgraded from 5 Mtpa to a 7.2 Mtpa run rate, with plans to stabilize at 7+ Mtpa by 2026. Exploration has also expanded resources to more than 10 million ounces, with reserves rising from 450,000 oz to 4 million oz in less than eight years.
The firm is expanding its tailings storage facility, identifying new nearby deposits, and improving environmental compliance through a new oxygen plant. It is also preparing to transition from outsourced mining to owner-operated fleets to boost efficiency and safety.
Safety and Cultural Transformation
Shaimardanov stressed that safety remains a cornerstone of RG Gold’s strategy. The company has tripled its safety department headcount and changed its reporting culture to encourage incident disclosure without penalizing staff KPIs. “Even our CEO was once stopped at site for not wearing the correct gloves,” he said, underlining a culture where safety applies to all, from top management to contractors.
Local and Workforce Engagement
RG Gold prioritizes local contractors for both essential and non-essential services, strengthening ties with surrounding villages and SMEs while sourcing international partners only for specialized needs such as SGS lab testing.
Employee development has also advanced, with personal development plans, international training programs, and partnerships with universities. The company supports professional associations, including a geotechnical engineering network now recognized internationally. Staff turnover has dropped sharply from 19% to 5% in just two years.
Looking Ahead
With construction projects delivered on schedule and ore reserves expanding, RG Gold is now focused on sustaining operational quality, ensuring smooth shareholder transitions, and pursuing new gold tenders. “It’s really about sustaining the business, raising the bar in operational quality, retaining employees, and taking our expansion to the next level,” Shaimardanov said.
