MINEX Forum

Website: Kazakhstan.com

  • Manganese Zhairema will resume production at the Zhomart mine

    Manganese Zhairema will resume production at the Zhomart mine

    In the Ulytau region of Kazakhstan, the development of the mothballed Zhomart mine will be resumed. Ferromanganese ores at the deposit will be mined by Manganese Zhairema JSC. The company posted the mining plan on the Unified Environmental Portal of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

    Production is planned to take place in 2024–2033. Before starting to develop the reserves, specialists need to drain the quarry, which currently contains about 1.84 million m3 of water. During the year, quarry water will be pumped out and purified to standard categories.

    As of January 1, 2023, the balance reserves of iron ore amount to about 5,330 thousand tons, manganese – 8,733 thousand tons. In the first year of operation of the Zhomart mine, they plan to extract 500 thousand tons of raw materials, after which Manganese Zhairema will reach its design capacity capacity 750 thousand tons of ore per year.

    The mined ore will be processed, as it was done before the mothballing of the deposit, at the processing plant of the Zhairemsky Mining and Processing Plant. The company intends to resume production of commercial concentrate containing 35% manganese and 10.5% iron. The company plans to produce 270 thousand tons of finished products per year.  

  • Temirtau plans to revive Qarmet

    Temirtau plans to revive Qarmet

    The authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan discussed with investor Andrey Lavrentyev the phased development of the Qarmet metallurgical plant. The new management of the plant was given a number of important tasks, including modernization of equipment and compliance with industrial safety requirements. In addition, the authorities reminded the new investor about the timely fulfillment of all obligations to Qarmet employees.

    The notorious ArcelorMittal Temirtau metallurgical plant, after a change of owner, was returned to its previous name – Qarmet. Now the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan is monitoring the resumption of work at the plant, reports the press service of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov.

    At the initial stage, about $1.3 billion will be allocated for the development of Qarmet. These funds will be used to purchase new equipment, introduce modern technologies and eliminate production disruptions in the plant. In the future, these measures should lead to an increase in the volume of products produced.

    First of all, an underground positioning system will appear at the enterprise’s mines, which will allow tracking the movement of employees underground. Communication with personnel will enable the dispatcher to maintain work processes and promptly make the right decisions in unexpected situations.

  • Kazatomprom implements digital technologies in industrial safety

    Kazatomprom implements digital technologies in industrial safety

    A forum dedicated to the digitalization of industrial safety of NAC Kazatomprom JSC was held in Shymkent. The event was attended by managers and employees of subsidiaries and affiliates of the nuclear holding. Forum participants discussed the implementation of automation and digitalization in the field of industrial safety, labor and environmental protection, as well as radiation and nuclear safety.

    Kazatomprom’s subsidiary KAP Technology LLP (IT integrator of the nuclear holding) presented plans for the development of eKAP and eKAP HSE information systems in the field of industrial safety, namely the automation of processes for managing personnel admission to high-risk work.

    “The safety and health of each employee are Kazatomprom’s top priorities. The company applies a whole range of measures and best international practices to prevent accidents and incidents, and also systematically works with its staff to improve the safety culture at all enterprises of the nuclear holding. A key element of the safety policy is the Vision Zero concept, the goal of which is to reduce the level of injuries at work to zero. To achieve this goal, Kazatomprom enterprises regularly improve industrial safety and labor protection systems, introduce modern automated and digital systems, ensuring the safety of people and the environment,” said Mukhit Magazhanov, Chief Director for General Affairs of NAC Kazatomprom JSC.

    Also during the forum, the capabilities of a video analytics system in production were presented. The digital solution allows you to identify and recognize employees, monitor the situation on site, and monitor staff compliance with safety regulations and labor protection standards. With the help of analytics, industrial specialists can identify potentially dangerous situations and use the system to investigate incidents.

    “These projects will automate processes such as pre-shift medical examination of workers, pre-shift and post-shift medical examination of personnel, issuance of an electronic permit for high-risk work, recording of dangerous conditions and actions, and training,” commented Nikolay Melnikov, General Director of LLP “ KAP Technology” NAC Kazatomprom JSC.

    Moreover, the SAP EHSM information system was presented at the event. The project helps improve environmental, labor and health protection, build a safe working environment, and reduce accidents and incidents at work.

    The use of digital innovations will allow the nuclear holding to increase the efficiency of industrial safety and ensure the company’s competitiveness.  

  • An electronic auction will be held for the right to explore solid minerals in Kazakhstan

    An electronic auction will be held for the right to explore solid minerals in Kazakhstan

    December 20 this year An electronic auction will be held for the right to explore solid minerals in 53 subsoil areas. 52 companies are participating in the auction.

    The auction will be held in accordance with the Rules for conducting an auction among applicants with the same priority, approved by order of the Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated May 11, 2018 No. 316.

    The auction will take place on the digital platform “E-Qazyna.kz” on December 20 of this year. from 10:00 to 17:00 (AST).

  • Lavrentiev will invest $1.3 billion in the first stage of modernization of the former ArcelorMittal Temirtau

    Lavrentiev will invest $1.3 billion in the first stage of modernization of the former ArcelorMittal Temirtau

    The company will update equipment, introduce modern technologies and raise safety standards.

    The government of Kazakhstan held a meeting on the development of Qarmet, the former ArcelorMittal Temirtau, with the participation of ministers and the company’s new investor Andrey Lavrentiev, reported in the Prime Minister’s Office

    “We discussed measures to stabilize the operational processes of the enterprise, provide it with the necessary raw materials, and carry out a number of legal procedures. We separately considered the implementation of the investment program, which provides for the modernization of the plant’s equipment, the introduction of modern production technologies and raising industrial safety standards. At the first stage, about $1.3 billion will be allocated for these purposes,” the statement says.

    Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov emphasized that the enterprise must fulfill all obligations to employees in a timely manner.
    “The head of government pointed out the importance of further dynamic development of production, growth in product output and the gradual elimination of identified environmental violations. He instructed central government agencies to provide the necessary support to the enterprise in resolving current issues and, together with the investor, to develop specific action plans for each area of ​​Qarmet’s development,” the prime minister’s office said.

  • Gold Corp will search for metals in the Karaganda region

    Gold Corp will search for metals in the Karaganda region

    Gold Corp  will begin geological exploration work in the Karkaraly district of the Karaganda region. The company intends to explore the Kyzylshoky site, for which it received a license for a period of six years in 2023. We learned about the company’s intentions from the work plan published on the Unified Environmental Portal of Kazakhstan.

    Geological exploration is planned to be completed in the second quarter of 2028. The area of ​​the geological allotment is 23.3 km 2 . There are two ore occurrences in the licensed area: Western and Eastern Kyzylshoki. According to previous studies, the average content of bismuth in ore bodies ranges from 0.04–0.524%, copper – 0.747–2.35%, silver – 8–63 g/t, tin – 0.004%, germanium – 0.0025%.

    Specialists will clarify the results and take samples for the above and other metals. The research will be carried out by the laboratory of VNIITsvetmet.

    The preliminary volume of drilling work was set at 20 thousand linear. m for the entire exploration period. The locations and depths of wells will be determined after receiving the results of the previous stages of exploration work.

  • The Republic of Kazakhstan is developing the practice of electronic auctions for subsoil users

    The Republic of Kazakhstan is developing the practice of electronic auctions for subsoil users

    In 2023, auctions for the right to explore and develop fields in Kazakhstan moved online. Until the end of December, bidding for solid mineral deposits and hydrocarbons will be held twice more on the E-Qazyna.kz platform.

    The Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan announced an auction for the right to geological exploration of solid mineral deposits. It will take place on December 20, 2023. Licenses for the use of 53 subsoil plots will be awarded to 52 companies.

    Trading on hydrocarbon deposits will take place today – December 14. The Energy Department says eight items were added to the auction instead of the planned 18 because they did not meet the minimum number of bidders.

    The total starting amount of the signing bonus for eight subsoil plots was estimated at 352.8 million tenge. It is known that for half of them the minimum requirements for the volume of geological exploration work were calculated – $11 million.

    Previously, the Ministry of Industry of the Republic emphasized that electronic trading for subsoil users will help attract investors to new projects in the mining industry, since it is more convenient for businessmen from other countries to participate in them online.

  • What will the 16 billion tenge donated by ArcelorMittal be used for?

    What will the 16 billion tenge donated by ArcelorMittal be used for?

    The public fund “Kazakhstan Khalkyna” received a charitable contribution in the amount of 16 billion tenge from the ArcelorMittal company, reports “ Voice of the People ”.

    According to the press service of the foundation, the funds received will be used by the foundation to implement charitable projects and programs in the field of education and healthcare that will benefit the population of the Karaganda region.

    At least 50 percent of the contribution amount will be allocated to projects implemented in Temirtau or significantly related to this city.  

    Charitable programs and projects will be aimed at:

    • improving secondary education institutions and supporting students in higher education through scholarships;
    • improving STEM education in the region;
    • provision of medicines to patients with orphan (rare) diseases;
    • providing healthcare institutions with advanced medical equipment and access to the services of medical experts.  

    In total, since its creation, the fund has received 158.8 billion tenge (as of December 1, 2023) from the largest companies, private charitable foundations and organizations, philanthropists and individuals.

  • Supplies to Europe and the deal with ArcelorMittal. Minister Sharlapaev gave an interview to an American channel

    Supplies to Europe and the deal with ArcelorMittal. Minister Sharlapaev gave an interview to an American channel

    Kazakh Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapaev, in an interview with the American television channel CNBC, shared his views on the growing role of Kazakhstan in the European supply chain of critical raw materials and discussed the successful completion of the deal with ArcelorMittal, Tengrinews.kz reports .

    Sharlapaev emphasized the importance of Kazakhstan in the European market.

    “In terms of critical materials and some rare earth elements, Kazakhstan occupies a significant place on the world stage as a leading producer. Our country plays a key role in the production of copper, recognized as an important element in the global economic space. In addition, Kazakhstan is actively involved in the mining of elements such as beryllium , thallium and neodymium, as well as titanium, which are already supplied to the markets of the European Union,” said Kanat Sharlapaev.

    According to him, of the 34 critical materials listed by the European Commission, Kazakhstan is already successfully producing 18.

    The minister was also asked about the recent successful deal with ArcelorMittal.

    “It was successfully completed on the basis of mutual agreement of the parties. ArcelorMittal decided to sell its Kazakh division in favor of the state, however, it is worth emphasizing that the company will continue to operate. This is a unique steel manufacturer for Central Asia with the potential to produce up to 4 million tons of metal products per year,” he noted.

    Sharlapaev stressed that the government has a significant interest in maintaining the enterprise, seeking to improve its performance in the areas of safety and environmental sustainability.

    In addition, the minister stated that Kazakhstan intends to strengthen its position in the European market and create favorable conditions for socially and environmentally responsible investors.

  • Coal exchange trading rules changed in Kazakhstan

    Coal exchange trading rules changed in Kazakhstan

    The Ministry of Trade and Integration approved amendments to the Exchange Trading Rules in the coal section. The corresponding Order was approved on December 6, 2023 No. 420-НК.

    The document expands the range of exchange trading entities classified as coal sellers to include coal producers carrying out mining in accordance with a subsoil use contract (coal open-pit mine, coal mine) and (or) processing (enrichment) of coal.

    Coal buyers will participate in exchange trading on a regional basis, depending on regional needs.

    Only regional operators of a particular region accredited by local executive bodies will take part in the auction.

    The list of buyers of municipal coal is subject to posting on the website of the authorized body exercising management in the coal industry.

    New requirements for the seller have been expanded, according to which he must provide to the authorized body in charge of the coal industry a monthly breakdown of the supply of municipal coal planned for delivery to the domestic market for the next production year from the total annual volume established by the List of Exchange Commodities.

    The authorized body in charge of the coal industry, based on the seller’s data provided for the monthly breakdown of supplies of municipal coal, generates information taking into account data from local executive bodies on the volume of consumption of municipal coal by the population in the context of each region.

    This information is posted on the Internet resources of this body, and is also sent to local executive bodies for their subsequent posting on Internet resources.

    To ensure transparency of pricing in the coal market in order to prevent sharp price increases, sellers ensure the sale of municipal coal through the commodity exchange in the following order:

    50% of the volume is sold at spot trading;

    50% of the volume is sold subject to monthly payment and delivery for a period of 6 to 12 months.

    For participants in exchange trading, the amount of exchange security is set at no more than three percent of the proposed exchange transaction

    The commodity exchange must ensure that the return of exchange collateral is carried out by the clearing organization no later than 5 working days from the date of submission of an application for the return of funds by the trading participant.

    These amendments come into effect upon the expiration of ten calendar days after the day of its first official publication.

    The Ministry of Trade and Integration notes that according to paragraph 3 of Article 15 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Commodity Exchanges”, transactions with exchange-traded goods included in the List of exchange-traded goods, made in violation of the requirements, outside of commodity exchanges, are declared invalid upon the claim of interested parties, the antimonopoly authority or prosecutor.

    According to paragraph 3 of Article 268 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the sale of goods included in the list of exchange goods outside commodity exchanges entails a fine for individuals in the amount of seventy, for small businesses or non-profit organizations – in the amount of one hundred, for medium-sized businesses – in the amount of one hundred forty, for large businesses – in the amount of four hundred monthly calculation indices.