MINEX Forum

Tag: mining modernisation

  • Kazakhstan Finds Safety Gaps at 10 Mining Sites as Authorities Push for Worker Positioning Systems Across the Sector

    Kazakhstan Finds Safety Gaps at 10 Mining Sites as Authorities Push for Worker Positioning Systems Across the Sector

    Inspections of 55 mines and quarries in Kazakhstan have revealed that ten facilities operated by eight companies have yet to install worker positioning systems, the Ministry of Industry and Construction has disclosed, as authorities push to close safety gaps across the extractive sector following a series of industrial accidents.

    Industry and Construction Minister Yersaiyn Nagassayev told a government meeting that three of the non-compliant facilities have committed funding for the installation of positioning systems, while technical solutions are being developed for five others. The remaining sites require equipment modernisation to bring safety standards up to the required level. The Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Emergency Situations are jointly working on strengthening industrial safety requirements across mining enterprises.

    The inspections form part of a broader safety and modernisation drive initiated at presidential level, which identified 50 leading enterprises in the mining and metallurgical complex as priority targets for technical re-equipment and modernisation. Since the programme began, companies in the sector have directed more than 530 billion tenge toward capacity upgrades, equipment maintenance and production expansion.

    Nagassayev highlighted the role of digital and AI-based technologies in preventing accidents before they occur. Neural network algorithms and machine vision solutions are being deployed to automatically identify risk factors and anomalies, while real-time process monitoring through digital platforms allows problems to be detected and resolved before they escalate into incidents.

  • Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Combinat Expands Modernisation Drive with Major Shaft Development at Zarmitan

    Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Combinat Expands Modernisation Drive with Major Shaft Development at Zarmitan

    Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Combinat (NMMC) is accelerating its modernisation strategy with a series of major investment projects designed to boost ore production, improve mining efficiency, and create new employment opportunities across the region. The company’s latest achievements highlight its growing role as a technological leader in Central Asia’s mining sector.

    A key milestone is the “Lower Horizons Development of the Zarmitan Deposit” project. In April 2025, NMMC commissioned the new “Skipovoy” shaft — a 6.5-metre-diameter, 1,000-metre-deep vertical shaft enabling the hoisting of 1,500 tonnes of ore per day. This high-capacity shaft has already generated 90 new jobs and provides critical new infrastructure for accessing deeper ore reserves.

    The parallel “Glavny” shaft has also reached the 1,000-metre mark. Once completed, it will support essential functions including ore hoisting, personnel and equipment transport, groundwater pumping, and ventilation of the underground mine network.

    The project has benefited from international cooperation: NMMC engineers worked with the Czech firm Mine Construction Alliance s.r.o. to link the “Skipovoy” and “Glavny” shafts at the 0.00 m level. This connection improves underground air circulation and establishes a secondary access route, strengthening operational safety and resilience.

    Key outcomes of these advancements include enhanced mining efficiency, expanded access to deeper ore bodies, and greater economic opportunities for local communities.

    Construction of the “Glavny” shaft is expected to be finished by the end of this year, marking another major step in NMMC’s comprehensive modernisation programme.