Qarmet has commenced manganese ore extraction at the West Karazhal deposit of its Iron Ore Department following the breakthrough connection of underground workings, marking the first such operation at the site in more than 30 years.
The newly developed mining horizon has been integrated with the mine’s main automotive decline, enabling large-scale underground equipment to access previously remote sections of the шахта. Previously, operations in this area were carried out manually without high-capacity machinery. The technical upgrade now allows the company to begin industrial-scale manganese mining.
The West Karazhal deposit is considered one of the largest manganese resources globally, with reserves estimated at 349 million tonnes. In 2026, Qarmet plans to extract 500,000 tonnes of manganese ore, with a long-term target of reaching design capacity of 2.5 million tonnes per year.
Manganese is set to become a strategic focus for the operation, forming a central pillar of Qarmet’s long-term development plans. The company intends to increase production volumes, introduce advanced engineering solutions and adopt best international practices in both mining and processing.
According to Qarmet, interest from potential buyers has already been confirmed through supply inquiries, underscoring the commercial prospects of the project.
Meanwhile, the Atasu mine currently produces 2.2 million tonnes of ore annually. Through the construction of the Central Shaft Group, the company aims to quadruple output to 9.5 million tonnes by 2028.
