MINEX Forum

Tag: mining safety

  • Celebrating 30 Years of Kazakhstan-France Joint Venture at KATCO

    Celebrating 30 Years of Kazakhstan-France Joint Venture at KATCO

    On 2 September, the Kazakhstan-France joint venture celebrated its 30th anniversary at the Shanyrak basecamp in Sozak District, Turkestan Region. The event was attended by key figures including Zulfukhar Zholdassov, First Deputy Akim of Turkestan Region, and Sylvain Guiaugue, the French Ambassador to Kazakhstan, alongside various stakeholders from the mining industry. The ceremony highlighted the significant milestones achieved by KATCO, which has transformed from a site with minimal infrastructure to a leading uranium producer, reaching a production capacity of 4,000 tonnes per year by 2026.

    Since its inception, KATCO has made substantial contributions to the national economy, paying KZT 460 billion into the budget and placing KZT 836 billion in orders with local suppliers. The company has also invested KZT 8.2 billion in over 500 social projects within the Turkestan Region and Sozak District, showcasing its commitment to community development. The workforce, comprising 1,363 employees—99% of whom are Kazakh citizens—has maintained an impressive safety record, working over two years without a lost-time injury.

    During the anniversary celebration, long-serving employees were recognised with state and regional awards, alongside KATCO Certificates of Honour. The event concluded with a screening of an anniversary film and a gathering of teams working on-site, reflecting on the journey of the company and the partnerships that have been crucial to its success since 1996. The ceremony served not only as a commemoration of past achievements but also as a reaffirmation of KATCO’s ongoing commitment to safety, community engagement, and sustainable mining practices.

  • Kazakhstan’s RG Gold Expands Operations, Safety Standards, and Workforce Development Amid Booming Mining Sector

    Kazakhstan’s RG Gold Expands Operations, Safety Standards, and Workforce Development Amid Booming Mining Sector

    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.

  • Energy Minister Bozhinovska Highlights Safety and Innovation at SASA Lead-Zinc Mine

    Energy Minister Bozhinovska Highlights Safety and Innovation at SASA Lead-Zinc Mine

    Minister of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Derivatives Sanja Bozhinovska visited the SASA mine, the nation’s largest underground lead and zinc mine, producing 800,000 tons of ore annually. Bozhinovska commended the mine’s sustainable practices and focus on innovation during discussions with its management.

    The SASA mine employs 770 local residents and has contributed over 85 million dinars in taxes over six years, aiding national development. General Manager Christopher Colburn noted $80 million invested in safety, modernization, and digitalization since joining Central Asia Metals. Bozhinovska toured the underground corridors, engaging directly with workers and emphasizing safety improvements.

    This visit forms part of the minister’s broader initiative to engage with key mining and energy sectors under her ministry’s oversight.

  • Death Toll Rises to Three in Southern Poland Coal Mine Fire

    Death Toll Rises to Three in Southern Poland Coal Mine Fire

    The recent coal mine fire at the Knurow-Szczyglowice mine in southern Poland has claimed a third life, as two critically injured miners succumbed to their injuries on Saturday. The fire, caused by a methane gas ignition approximately 850 meters underground on Wednesday, left 16 workers injured, including nine with severe burns. The victims were rushed to specialized burn treatment centers, but many faced life-threatening conditions, with burns covering up to 80% of their bodies.

    Five of the injured miners, treated for minor injuries, have been discharged. Investigations into the cause of the methane ignition are ongoing, as methane remains a recurring hazard in Poland’s coal mining industry, leading to frequent fires and deadly explosions. Authorities are now focusing on improving mine safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

    The Knurow-Szczyglowice mine fire highlights the persistent dangers of methane gas in underground mining and underscores the need for stringent safety protocols to protect workers in hazardous environments.

  • Qarmet Implements Pilot Project for Methane Reduction at Tentek Mine

    Qarmet Implements Pilot Project for Methane Reduction at Tentek Mine

    Qarmet, a metallurgical company, has launched a pilot project aimed at the early removal of harmful gases from the coal seams of the Tentek mine, as reported on the company’s Telegram channel. The initiative involves the use of plasma-impulse technology, which is expected to significantly reduce methane levels, thereby enhancing safety during mining operations at Tentek. This method of degasification has already seen success in the Kemerovo region.

    Drilling has commenced on the D-6 seam, which contains an estimated 16 million tons of solid fuel. Projections indicate that over 200 million cubic meters of methane will be extracted. Alexander Polchin, a representative from Qarmet’s coal department, noted that the company’s mines have low gas permeability despite high levels of natural gas content. Previously employed methods did not substantially improve the situation.

    According to the engineer, adopting techniques used by colleagues in Kemerovo, the company aims to halve the gas content, thus mitigating risks for miners. The project includes drilling ten wells, each up to 1000 meters deep. To facilitate methane release, a network of microfractures will be created within the seam. Methane with a concentration above 97% will be processed and utilized.

    A total of 87 wells will be needed for complete gas removal, with the first methane volumes expected to be extracted this autumn. The company plans to extend this degasification method to other mines in the future.

  • Fatal Cave-In at Myslowice-Wesola Coal Mine Claims Two Lives, One Miner Still Missing

    Fatal Cave-In at Myslowice-Wesola Coal Mine Claims Two Lives, One Miner Still Missing

    A tragic cave-in at the Myslowice-Wesola coal mine in southern Poland early Tuesday has resulted in the deaths of two miners, with one still unaccounted for, according to mining authorities. The incident, which occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m., took place 870 meters (2,800 feet) underground in a section where 15 miners were working, as reported by Rajmund Horst, the deputy head of the mining company.

    Rescue teams managed to bring two miners to the surface who were subsequently declared deceased. Another miner, who was retrieved from the site, is currently receiving medical treatment. Of the 12 miners who sustained injuries, nine remain hospitalized, while the others have been treated and released.

    Efforts are ongoing to locate the missing miner, with six rescue teams actively involved in the search. The area where the cave-in occurred, near the coal face, is known for its heightened risk of cave-ins and methane gas explosions, which are prevalent hazards in many Polish coal mines.

    This incident marks the second cave-in at the Myslowice-Wesola mine this year, following a previous incident on April 17 that resulted in the death of one miner. Additionally, two other miners have lost their lives in separate mining accidents in Poland this year. In 2023, the Polish mining sector saw 15 fatalities due to workplace accidents.