THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MID RK AND «RIO TINTO» BECAME STRATEGICAL

The Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan Asset Issekeshev put up the head of exploration operations of the British mining company «Rio Tinto» Stefan Macintosh, under the direction of whom there are 550 global exploration teams of «Rio Tinto», leading its operations in 18 countries of the world.

Steven McIntosh informed the Minister about the progress of joint projects in areas Korgantas and Balkhash-Saryshagan in Karaganda region, and future plans. At the moment airborne geophysical studies were made, preparatory work for a geodatabase was carried out, reconnaissance and search audit trails, indigenous geochemical sampling.

In general, MID RK agreed with «Rio Tinto» on the transfer of technology by the company to the Kazakh side, which did not exist before in the country, as well as the preparation of 60 Kazakhstani specialists.

In addition, Asset Issekeshev proposed to investors to participate in the creation of a model factory in Kazakhstan and Personnel training center.

Let us recall that in the summer of this year «Rio Tinto» company together with «Kazgeology» JSC start exploration work using the world's technologies to find large deposits in two areas of Karaganda region – «Balkhash Saryshagan» and «Korgantas». As a result of exploration it is expected to discover of world-class copper deposits. Investments in the exploratory stage is about 15 mln. US dollars.