New copper smelter to be built in Balkhash
A modern copper smelter will be built in Balkhash on behalf of the President of Kazakhstan The project will become one of the largest in the domestic metallurgy industry
The Government has approved an investment agreement between the Ministry of Industry and Construction and Qazaq Smelter Private investments in construction will amount to 750 billion tenge Construction of the plant will begin in 2027 and production is scheduled to start in 2030
The company will be able to annually produce 300,000 tons of cathode copper 10 tons of gold 300 tons of silver and over 1.5 million tons of sulfuric acid
The new plant will provide about 1,200 permanent jobs By the time of launch, 90% of the team including managers will be Kazakhstani specialists This figure is planned to increase to 95% within five years In addition the investor will finance the training of 50 students in educational institutions of the Karaganda region
The launch of the enterprise will significantly increase copper production in the country to more than 800 thousand tons per year The volume of exports of high-value-added products will grow from 460 to 760 thousand tons annually
The production will be equipped with modern technologies and digital systems which will increase the efficiency and environmental friendliness of the processes
Cathode copper is a strategically important raw material for industry It is used in the manufacture of cables electrical equipment pipes building materials automotive components as well as bronze brass and other copper alloys