The international company Boston Consulting Group, specializing in management consulting, has been conducting an audit of coal production at Qarmet since December of last year, reports the correspondent of the business information center Kapitak.kz, citing the company’s press service.
“During the study of the Coal Department’s activities, it was noted that explosions, fires, and gas dynamic phenomena have been the cause of 95% of all tragic incidents in mines since 2021. It has been proposed to implement comprehensive modernization work, starting with the installation of a positioning system at all facilities. To manage the systems, the establishment of a central dispatch service has been recommended, which will increase the efficiency of production data consolidation and accelerate response to external factors such as geological disturbances,” Qarmet reported.
The observations section also included irrational investments in the early years for acquiring outdated technological equipment, the absence of a unified standard for working conditions in mines, and others.
“As a result of the BCG audit commissioned by Qarmet shareholder Andrey Lavrentiev, a joint working group has been established to develop a detailed comprehensive action plan for modernization in the Coal Department until 2028. The goal of the large-scale campaign is to implement the best international practices to improve productivity and work safety,” the message stated.
Recall that on October 28, 2023, an explosion occurred at the Kostyanko mine in the Karaganda region, formerly owned by ArcelorMittal Temirtau, resulting in the death of 46 people. October 29, 2023, was declared a National Mourning Day. The president instructed the government to cease investment cooperation with ArcelorMittal Temirtau.
On December 8, 2023, it became known that the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and ArcelorMittal Corporation had concluded a deal to transfer ArcelorMittal Temirtau JSC to Kazakhstan. The Kazakh State Direct Investment Fund Qazaqstan Investment Corporation acquired all the shares of the metallurgical enterprises ArcelorMittal Temirtau JSC and ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Aktau JSC. The deal amounted to $286 million. The investor became the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Allur Group of Companies, Andrey Lavrentiev. According to the terms of the deal, he is required to invest $3 billion in the modernization of the plant and mines.
It is worth noting that on August 17, 2023, a fire occurred on the Kazakhstan mine, which belonged to ArcelorMittal Temirtau, resulting in the death of five miners. On November 3, 2022, in Shakhtinsk, at the Lenin mine, during drilling of gas drainage wells, there was a sudden gas outburst. There were 106 workers in the mine, and five people died.
