/IRBIS, Apr 10, 02/ - REUTERS informs, with the reference to the chairman of the company's Board of directors, Gennadyi Zilberberg, that Kazzinc plans to increase the production of metal zinc while maintaining financial figures under the decline in world metals prices.

This year the company plans to produce 266,321 tons of metallic zinc against 259,285 tons last year.

It is necessary to increase the output in order to increase the profits under low world prices, he said.

It is said that all the output of the company is exported and used mainly in car manufacturing.

However, the company is said to cut the production of refined lead to 102,264 tons from 107,078 tons in 2001 because the company has to buy 60% of the concentrate and the lead prices are low, and therefore the discrepancy exists.

The company's sales income is expected to fall to $386.129m from $408.975m in 2001 as a result of unfavorable situation.

It is neither pessimistic nor optimistic scenarios, but somewhere in the middle, he added.

The company also produces copper, gold and silver and the monopoly in zinc production in Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, Kazastur zinc AG, affiliated with Glencor International, owns 62.40% of Kazzinc shares, and 27.64% is owned by the state, is said.

[2002-04-10]