The Republic of Kazakhstan Government has entered into an agreement with China Nonferrous Metal Mining to construct a copper smelter at a cost of $1.5 billion.
To be built near Aktogay village in the Abay region, this smelter is expected to have an annual copper production capacity of 300,000 tons.
The agreement was signed between KAZ Minerals Smelting and NFC, with the latter providing design services and procurement of process equipment. NFC Kazakhstan will serve as the construction and commissioning contractor.
The copper concentrate for the smelter will be sourced from Vostoktsvetmet’s Bozshakol and Aktogay mining and processing operations.
Once completed, the new smelter will meet domestic market demands for copper cathode and other copper-containing materials.
In addition to copper, the plant is designed to produce refined gold, silver, and sulphuric acid.
The signing ceremony was attended by Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
Bektenov stated: “The Head of State has set the task of sustainable economic growth. The construction of the new copper smelter is a major industrial project that will increase the processing of copper raw materials mined in the country and will make a great contribution to the economy of our country. The copper industry is one of the priority sectors of our industry, and its dynamic development is very important for us.”
