The Akim of Turkestan Region, Nuralhan Kushev, recently met with Zhang Zhanshin, Vice President of Sinopec, to discuss the current status and future plans for a modern phosphate ore processing plant in the Sayramsky district. This significant investment project, valued at 150 billion tenge, is being implemented by the company ‘Sayak Phosphate’. The initiative aims to establish a comprehensive production complex that effectively utilises local mineral resources, including the extraction, enrichment, and deep processing of phosphate ore.
Upon completion, the plant is expected to enrich 2 million tonnes of phosphate ore annually, producing 1.6 million tonnes of sulphuric acid, 600,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid, 600,000 tonnes of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), 600,000 tonnes of MAP (Monoammonium Phosphate), and 350,000 tonnes of synthetic ammonia. The products will cater to both domestic markets and exports to China, India, and neighbouring countries.
Kushev emphasised the project’s importance not only for the region but also for the industrial development of the country as a whole. He stated, “The phosphate processing plant in the Sayramsky district is one of the strategically significant projects for the region and the industrial and economic development of the entire country. Once operational, it will create around 1,000 jobs, enhancing the welfare of the local population and boosting the region’s production capacity.”
He further highlighted the need for high-quality construction that adheres to international standards, assuring that the government would provide comprehensive support throughout all stages of the project, including infrastructure development and coordination with state authorities.
The project has been included in the Industrialisation Map, with an estimated phosphate ore reserve of approximately 1 billion tonnes and a phosphorus content of around 20-30%. An EPC contract has been signed with Sinopec Nanjing Engineering Co., Ltd. for the technological aspects of the project. Currently, specialists are conducting additional studies of the production site and ore deposits, selecting cores and ore samples, while verifying technological solutions.
The technical and economic justification is expected to be completed by October this year, followed by the design phase, construction of engineering infrastructure, railway installation, and procurement of equipment. The plant is slated to commence operations in 2028, with projections indicating that it will contribute approximately 43.3 billion tenge in tax revenues to the budget over the next decade. Additionally, the project aims to establish a new production chain in the chemical industry with high added value, facilitating the production of mineral fertilisers and chemical products, ensuring import substitution, and increasing export potential.
In related news, a paper processing plant is also set to be constructed in Turkestan Region with an investment of 1 billion tenge, as Chinese investors aim to create a construction hub in the area.
