MINEX Forum

Website: Kazakhstan.com

  • Gold Processing Plant in Astana Plans to Develop Jewelry Sector

    Gold Processing Plant in Astana Plans to Develop Jewelry Sector

    “Tau-Ken Altyn,” a gold refining plant in Astana and a subsidiary of the national company “Tau-Ken Samruk,” is set to broaden its range of processed raw materials and manufactured products, announced Bakyt Chirchikbayev, chairman of the board of “Tau-Ken Samruk.” The company aims to enhance both the variety of processed materials and the output of finished products, including the processing of catalysts and the expansion of the jewelry sector, as stated during the MINEX-2024 forum.

    Chirchikbayev highlighted that last year, following successful research endeavors, the company initiated the processing of solid industrial waste from the gold refining plant, leading to virtually zero-waste production.

    Kaysar Zhumagaliyev, chairman of the association of legal entities “Jewelers’ League of Kazakhstan,” noted in 2019 that the obligation to pay value-added tax (VAT) when purchasing refined gold from “Tau-Ken Altyn” had prompted jewelers to prefer acquiring gold from pawnshops and informal miners.

    Chirchikbayev also mentioned another intriguing project, a joint venture (laboratory) in Karaganda with the Australian company ALS. The joint venture aims to diversify the company’s activities by providing services to other firms, particularly subsidiaries of “Tau-Ken Samruk”.

  • Joint Venture “Kogodai” Plans to Resume Copper Exploration in Eastern Kazakhstan

    Joint Venture “Kogodai” Plans to Resume Copper Exploration in Eastern Kazakhstan

    The joint venture “Kogodai,” holding a license since 2013 for the exploration of copper and associated metals in the Kogodai area of the Kurchum district of the East Kazakhstan region, intends to resume copper exploration in the region. Between 2014 and 2023, the company conducted geological exploration, resulting in the estimation of mineral resources categorized as inferred. Now, “Kogodai” plans to conduct geological exploration in all previously established and assumed 10 mineralization zones of the Kogodai site, the Lotoshnoye site, two geophysical anomalies, and continue the exploration of the Kogodai deposit. This information was disclosed in materials for public hearings scheduled in the Maraldy village of the Kurchum district on April 12.

    The geological exploration area covers 52.2 square kilometers. Search routes on foot will be executed within the contractual territory. Drilling is planned to be carried out using mobile drilling rigs of the SKB-5/LF-90 type with the use of Boart Longyear drill bits, which will require 59.6 thousand liters of diesel fuel in 2024.

    For the power supply of the field camp, three gasoline generators FPG 9800E FORZA will be used. The fuel consumption of one generator will be 2.78 tons per year.

    Coring drilling of exploration wells is envisaged for exploring ore bodies at depth. Most of the planned wells will be drilled to a depth of 200-250 meters. The total volume of coring drilling will include 20 wells with a total volume of 3000 linear meters.

    Cores extracted from core barrels (samples in the form of cylindrical columns) will be washed and placed in core boxes. As the wells progress, a label indicating the depth will be attached after each run.

    The participants of the JV “Kogodai” are the social entrepreneurship corporation “Yertis” (belongs to the financial management of the akimat of the East Kazakhstan region) and the company “Orsu Metals Kazakhstan,” a subsidiary of Harrsin Management B.V., whose ultimate beneficiaries are not disclosed.

    In the 2010s, the copper projects Kogodai and Karchiga in the East Kazakhstan region were developed by the British company Orsu Metals, registered on AIM (one of the platforms of the London Stock Exchange). The company faced difficulties in financing projects and delisted its shares from AIM in 2016.

    Earlier this year, Citibank forecasted that an increase in green energy targets would increase copper demand by an additional 4.2 million tons by the end of the decade. In this case, copper prices could reach $15,000 per ton by 2025, which is 75% higher than the price of copper at the beginning of January. On April 9th, investment bank analysts noted that the price of copper on the London Metal Exchange approached $9,500 per ton, trading near 15-month highs.

    Last summer, the village of Maraldy was often mentioned in the headlines due to the dissatisfaction of the local population with the plans of the company “VSAM Production” to build a gold mining plant for 250 thousand tons of ore per year. Near the village, geological exploration companies Maralicha and Maralicha-Gold were searching for gold. Gold mining was planned to be conducted by open-pit mining – local residents feared the contamination of springs and the river by harmful substances, as well as other possible issues due to mining activities.

  • In Pit Crushing & Conveying (IPCC) and material handling system contract for TAKRAF in Guinea

    In Pit Crushing & Conveying (IPCC) and material handling system contract for TAKRAF in Guinea

    The Simandou iron ore project is one of the largest unexploited high-grade iron ore deposits in the world. With the project’s development reaching an important milestone in March this year, the project’s partners have been able to kick off with development work, including support from the government of Guinea with defined requirements for the start of production.

    The contract entails the design, fabrication and delivery of an advanced and integrated IPCC and material handling system.

    Highlights include:

    • Two primary IPCC systems incorporating two TAKRAF X-TREME class sizers to crush extracted ore received by truck
    • A secondary In Pit Secondary Crushing & Conveying (IPSCC) system incorporating four TAKRAF sizers for further ore processing
    • Two rail mounted stackers for ore stockpiling
    • Two rail mounted reclaimers for ore reclaiming
    • Two wagon loading stations with buffer silos
    • A complex conveyor system with transfer stations for the above equipment, including a technically sophisticated long downhill conveyor between the secondary IPSCC system and the stockyard
    • Electrical and control equipment and stockyard auxiliaries

    In order to achieve the desired annual production rate the crushing system has been sized with a design capacity of up to 13,200 t/h. Please read more: In Pit Crushing & Conveying (IPCC) and material handling system contract for TAKRAF in Guinea – TAKRAF GmbH

  • Two DELKOR BQR flotation cell animation videos now on Youtube

    Two DELKOR BQR flotation cell animation videos now on Youtube

    DELKOR BQR flotation cells equipped with our proprietary MAXGen mechanism enable the user to achieve best-in-class metallurgical performance with maximized metal recovery, combined with greater ease of maintenance and lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), including reduced energy consumption.

    Two new BQR animation videos have been prepared with a view to assisting the viewer in understanding the myriad of advantages of DELKOR BQR flotation cells:

    • Improved metallurgical performance
    • Cell bypass ready provision for larger cells to facilitate quick, easy and safe cell maintenance
    • Cell bypass improves circuit flexibility to a great extent
    • Low downtime and increased ease of maintenance
    • Precise froth level controls
    • Internal or external dart valves with a strong focus on safety
    • Reduced specific power consumption
    • Low maintenance cost and total cost of ownership

    One video explains the principal parts of DELKOR BQR flotation cell, which now incorporates DELKOR proprietary MAXGen mechanism. The video also demonstrates how the BQR cell functions, as well as the process that takes place inside the cell whilst in operation.

    The second video demonstrates DELKOR BQR flotation cell’s bypass-ready provision and the manner in which any cell can be bypassed, in order to perform maintenance, whilst other cells in the bank remain in use and without completely stopping the flotation circuit.

  • TAKRAF Group secures major project award with SNIM for F´Derick iron ore project in Mauritania

    TAKRAF Group secures major project award with SNIM for F´Derick iron ore project in Mauritania

    TAKRAF Group, a world leader for innovative technological solutions for the mining and associated industries, is happy to announce the signing of a major contract with Societe Nationale Industrielle et Miniere (SNIM) for the supply of a complete iron ore crushing, screening, and material handling system, along with a train loading station for the F’Derick project in Mauritania.

    The F’Derick iron ore deposit is part of SNIM’s iron ore complex in Mauritania. With current production of approximately 12 million tons per annum, SNIM aims to increase this to 18 million tons through the development of the F’Derick project, thereby contributing to the country’s iron ore production.

    The contract, signed at the end of 2023, marks a key milestone as SNIM begins development work on site. An inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Mauritanian President of State Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, underscoring the importance of this collaboration.

    Highlights of TAKRAF’s scope of supply include: 
    Lot 1

    • Primary crushing plant
    • Apron feeder
    • Belt conveyor CV-1
    • Secondary crushing plant with pre-screening
    • Belt conveyor CV-2 and transfer tower TT-1
    • Required auxiliary systems and accessories

    Lot 2

    • Belt conveyor CV-5
    • Train loading (loadout) station
    • Required auxiliary systems and accessories
  • Kazakhstan’s “Tau-Ken Samruk” Partners with US Investors for Rare Metals Exploration

    Kazakhstan’s “Tau-Ken Samruk” Partners with US Investors for Rare Metals Exploration

    In a significant development, Kazakhstan’s mining company “Tau-Ken Samruk” has entered into a collaboration agreement with Cove Capital, a US-based organization, aimed at exploring Rare Metals (RM) and Rare Earth Metals (RZM) within the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK). The partnership entails joint geological exploration activities, particularly in the Kostanay region, as disclosed in a Telegram channel of the “Samruk-Kazyna” fund. The exploration focus will center on the Akbulak deposit near Arkalyk, with Cove Capital committed to fully funding the exploration until the resources are officially registered. While detailed project information remains scarce, it’s notable that the foreign entity and Tau-Ken Samruk’s subsidiary, “Kazgeology,” will establish a joint venture for this endeavor. Previously, experts from Kazgeology had hinted at the potential richness of the Akbulak site in RM and RZM, including yttrium, cerium, thulium, zirconium, lutetium, tin, and others. The company’s attempt to attract investors for the development of these reserves dates back to 2019. Forecasts estimate the resources of this area to be around 380,000 tonnes. This collaboration follows the signing of documents between “Samruk-Kazyna” and Cove Capital last September, indicating a broader partnership in critical raw materials.

  • British Concrete Canvas Ltd. to Establish Concrete Production Plant in Kazakhstan

    British Concrete Canvas Ltd. to Establish Concrete Production Plant in Kazakhstan

    British company Concrete Canvas Ltd. has revealed plans to construct a concrete slab manufacturing plant in Kazakhstan, as reported by Kazakh Invest. Originally intending to build the facility in Russia, geopolitical circumstances led to the decision to opt for Kazakhstan. The envisioned project, according to British investors, is poised to address critical challenges in the construction and renovation of irrigation systems in the country. The initiative is expected to significantly enhance the operational reliability of irrigation systems, eliminate water loss within the country’s agro-industrial complex, and reduce budgetary expenditures on canal renovation programs, protective dams, and other civil infrastructure assets. Concrete Canvas, known for producing geosynthetic cement composite mats that prevent water loss during filtration while maintaining material durability, has already established a presence in Almaty. The company is currently assessing market needs, engaging in discussions with relevant ministries and local executive bodies. Concrete Canvas Ltd. was among the 21 companies relocating to Kazakhstan from Russia and Belarus, as announced by the government in late December 2022. Furthermore, in November 2023, during a working trip to the United Kingdom, Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister, Akylbek Zaparov, proposed that Concrete Canvas consider establishing a plant in the republic.

  • Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development to Auction Over 100 Mineral Deposits

    Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development to Auction Over 100 Mineral Deposits

    By the end of the first summer month, the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development will showcase more than 100 mineral deposits at an auction, including 23 returned and 83 reserve sites. This announcement was made by the head of the Ministry’s Committee of Geology, Erlan Akbarov, during a briefing at the SCC. All auctions will enforce commitments to ensure production levels do not fall below the average national output. Prospective bidders are reminded of the obligation to allocate funding for the development of regional social infrastructure. In 2023, the Ministry organized two auctions, offering 74 potentially valuable sites, with total subscription bonuses amounting to around 3.5 billion tenge, as reported by the Ministry’s press center. Mr. Akbarov stated that nearly 10 billion tenge is allocated annually for state geological exploration of mineral resources. Over the past five years, approximately 52 billion tenge has been invested in this sector, equating to 8 per square kilometer. Notably ,mineral rights holders have spent significantly more on geological exploration activities over the five−year period, totaling 357 billion tenge. 

  • Ulytau Resources to Conduct Uranium Exploration in Kazakhstan’s Jambil Region

    Ulytau Resources to Conduct Uranium Exploration in Kazakhstan’s Jambil Region

    Ulytau Resources is set to embark on uranium exploration at the Djusandalinskoye deposit in the Zhambyl region. Under the acquired license, the mining company will survey an area of 29.43 km² from 2024 to 2028 near the uranium-molybdenum Botaburum deposit in southern Pri-Balkhash, as reported by inbusiness.kz. In addition to seeking new uranium deposits, Ulytau Resources will evaluate previously identified reserves and monitor the natural radiation levels during drilling activities. Public discussions regarding the exploration license for uranium are scheduled for April 25th. The uranium deposits at Djusandalinskoye were first discovered in 1982, with the metal’s reserves classified under categories C1 and C2 in 1991 and subsequently studied by “Yuzhpolymetal” experts who have conducted geological surveys at Botaburum since 1957.

  • Irkaz Metal Corporation Plans Expansion of Copper Smelting Plant in Kazakhstan

    Irkaz Metal Corporation Plans Expansion of Copper Smelting Plant in Kazakhstan

    Irkaz Metal Corporation, an Iranian copper producer, is looking to construct the third phase of its copper smelting plant at the Borly deposit in the Karaganda region. The new facility will cover an area of 100 hectares, with construction set to commence in July 2024. This information was revealed on the AGMP portal. The hydro-metallurgical complex is expected to process 2.5 million cubic meters (approximately 4.6 million tons) of copper ore annually through heap leaching, enabling the company to produce 5,000 tons of cathode copper per year. The plant will require over 137,000 tons of sulfuric acid annually for processing. The Borly site currently hosts a shift camp for employees, who work in two 12-hour shifts year-round. Notably, the plant has a two-story fire station on-site. Irkaz Metal Corporation inaugurated the plant in November two years ago, with an initial project investment exceeding 9 billion tenge. Currently, the facility employs 140 individuals, with the copper smelting plant’s capacity standing at 5,000 tons.