Qazaq Kaolin plans to produce 60,000 tons of enriched kaolin this year at its mining and processing plant launched on April 23. Kaolin is a raw material for the production of ceramic products, sheet glass and other products. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Qazaq Kaolin is owned by two Kazakhstani citizens: Kydyrgali Baibek and his partner Bekzat Kerimbay. The first is the father of the former mayor of Almaty, Bauryzhan Baibek. In turn, Bauryzhan Baibek is the chairman of the board of directors of Qazaq Kaolin.
"Based on the recommendations of the expert commission (Protocol dated 09.06.2026) on the submitted application, guided by Article 278 of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan 'On Subsoil and Subsoil Use', the Department (of Natural Resources and Regulation of Nature Management of Akmola Region - Kursiv) decides to start negotiations with Qazaq Kaolin LLP on amendments to the contract dated November 25, 2014 No. 1119 for the extraction of kaolin at the Alekseevskoye deposit in Zerenda district in terms of adjusting production volumes in the following amount: in 2026 - 60,000 tons, in 2027 - 200,000 tons, from 2028 - 300,000 tons annually," the company's statement on planned activities says.
In April, Qazaq Kaolin General Director Marat Khasenov said that the production capacity of the plant is 230 thousand tons and up to 90 thousand tons of enriched kaolin per year, without specifying which period these indicators refer to.
The technical launch of the plant's equipment took place on April 23, 2026, and the official launch on July 4.
The Alekseevskoye primary kaolin deposit is located in the Zerenda district of Akmola region, 22 km north-northwest of Kokshetau. The deposit is one of the largest in the world.
The mining allotment area is 2.05 square km. The plant will operate from 2026 to 2032. The estimated volume of mining operations will be 30 thousand cubic meters in 2026, 100 thousand cubic meters in 2027, and 150 thousand cubic meters annually in 2028-2032. The mining contract expires in 2039.
Investments in the relaunch of the previously operating plant amounted to 12 billion tenge. In addition to enriched kaolin, the plant, which has installed equipment from Germany, China and Russia, produces quartz sand of four fractions.
On July 4, the akimat of Akmola region reported that the enterprise, which produces raw materials for the production of ceramic tiles and other building materials, will create 90 jobs with an average salary of 650 thousand tenge. In the presence of Deputy Akim of Akmola region Ernar Zharkeshov, the plant produced the first industrial batch of enriched kaolin.
According to eGov, Qazaq Kaolin is owned by two Kazakhstani citizens: Kydyrgali Baibek and Bekzat Kerimbay. The first is the father of the former mayor of Almaty, Bauryzhan Baibek. Bauryzhan Baibek is the chairman of the board of directors of Qazaq Kaolin.
Bauryzhan Baibek served as mayor of Almaty in 2015-2019. He previously reported that his father Kydyrgali Baibek was a classmate of the first president Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Bekzat Kerimbay is the head of the capital's corporate fund Aray Media Group. The sole owner of this company, registered in Astana and engaged in the production of films, videos and television programs, is Aigul Baibek, the sister of the former mayor.