SSPU in 2006 intends to increase pellets output by almost 18%, concentrate - by 30%, ore output - by 31%

/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Rudnyi, November 2, 05/ - Sokolovsko- Sarbayskoye production unit JSC (SSPU, Kostanay oblast) next year plans to increase volume of pellets output by almost 18% compared to year 2005, concentrate - by 30%, iron ore output - by 31%, Anatoliy Bazhenov company's vice-president said. He says in 2005 SSPU's iron ore output will total 30.7 m. tons, concentrate - 12.9 m. tons, pellets - 7.4 m. tons. In 2006 raw ore output is planned on the level of 40.2 m. tons, concentrate - 16.7 m. tons, pellets - 8.7 m. tons. He says this year SSPU intends to sell 11.8 m. tons of commercial iron ore production, among which 4.8 m. tons of concentrate and 7 m. tons of pellets. He says, 84% of this volume will be exported. In 2006 iron ore production shipment will total over 16 m. tons, including - 7.3 m. tons of concentrate and 9 m. tons of pellets, and export will be increased to 91% of total sales volume. Besides, Bazhenov notes that SSPU increase inflow of taxes to the budget: in 2004 payments totaled KZT18.7 bn. (current 133.82/$1), in 2005 they will exceed KZT20 bn., in 2006 - KZT25.7 bn. SSPU is the biggest in Kazakhstan producer of iron ore raw stuff. In 2004 SSPU outputted 35.8 m. tons of raw iron ore and produced 14.8 m. tons of commercial ore. The company is among Eurasian industrial association (EIA). Besides SSPU EIA also comprises Eurasian energy corporation JSC (Pavlodar oblast), Aluminium of Kazakhstan JSC (Pavlodar oblast), ventures of TNC Kazchrome, Shubarkol Komir JSC (Karaganda oblast), Mugotex JSC (East- Kazakhstan oblast) and Zhairemskiy OMPE (Karaganda oblast). [2005-11-03]