A new copper smelter will be built in Balkhash, creating 1,200 permanent jobs. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
The government approved an investment agreement between the Ministry of Industry and Construction and Qazaq Smelter LLP for the construction of a copper smelter. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed the corresponding resolution.
"The total volume of private investment will be 750 billion tenge. Construction of the enterprise will begin in 2027, and commissioning is planned for 2030," the statement said.
The plant's production capacity will be 300,000 tons of cathode copper, 10 tons of gold, 300 tons of silver, and over 1.5 million tons of sulfuric acid per year. The project aims to create about 1,200 permanent jobs.
Upon launch, 90% of employees, including management positions, will be Kazakhstani specialists, and their share will increase to 95% over the next five years. The investor will also undertake to train 50 students at educational institutions in the Karaganda region.
"The commissioning of new capacities will increase the volume of copper raw material processing within the country by one and a half times, to over 800,000 tons per year. Exports of high value-added products will grow from 460,000 tons to 760,000 tons per year. In addition, production will be equipped with modern technologies and digital solutions," experts say.
In the first six months of this year, production in the manufacturing industry increased by 9.8%. Growth is observed in mechanical engineering, food and chemical industries, oil refining, production of building materials, and other sectors. During this period, 232,000 tons of cathode copper were produced in the country.
Cathode copper is the main raw material for producing high value-added products. It is used in the manufacture of electrical cables and equipment, pipes, building materials, automotive parts, as well as bronze, brass, and other copper alloys.