Kazakhmys plans to expand manufacture by 30%, to invest up to $1 bn., as a result of maintenance of the 5-year program

/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Almaty, March 30, 07/ - The copper corporation Kazakhmys as a result of maintenance of the new development strategy, meant for near five years, plans to expand manufacture by 30%. "This year the corporation development strategy for coming five years is being worked out, and the production growth in period of three-four years will be moderate - by 3-4%, soon after when big deposits Boschykul, Aktogay are put in operation, we hope that the manufacture will be expanded by 30%," the chairman of the board of Corporation Kazakhmys LLP Eduard Oghay said at the press conference on Friday in the press center of Interfax- Kazakhstan agency in Almaty. At that, he informed that Kazakhmys plans to invest to development of manufacture about $1 bn within this period. "This year we will start financing and, at the most important, preparation of the technical-economic basing and design estimates for three new deposits. In addition, we are preparing the technical-economic basing for construction of four new additional mills. Investments amount within this period will be varied up to $1 bn," E. Oghay said. Kazakhmys, by data of the company, promulgated on Friday, in 2006 compared to 2005 increased its production of cathode copper (excluding working within contracts) by 4.7% - up to 405 th. tones compared to 387 th. tones respectively. Including, production of cathode copper from the proper concentrate of the corporation grew by 8.6% - to 365 th. tones compared to 339 th. tones. Earlier the corporation informed that its mining enterprises produced in 2006 39.240 m tones of ore compared to 39.446 m tones in 2005. Output of the copper concentrate in 2006 totaled 433.5 th. tones compared 397.6 th. tones in 2005. Production of sync concentrate in year 2006 totaled 129.1 th tones (in 2005 - 95.1 th. tones), metallic sync - 59.5 th tones (in 2005 - 50.9 th tones). Besides, Kazakhmys produced in 2006 21.570 m silver ounces (in 2005 - 20.606 m) and 165.5 th golden ounces (145.3 th respectively). At the mentioned press conference the deputy chairman of the Board of Corporation Kazakhmys LLP for financial-economic affairs Vladimir Dzhumanbaev informed that in 2006 the company invested $321 m in production development and maintenance of the main stuffs. In addition, by his data, the corporation transferred in the budget of Kazakhstan $864 m as tax paymnets. The fund of workers' salary in the company in 2006 made $237.6 m, compare to $187.2 m in 2005, the deputy chairman of the Board of the corporation informed, and in 2007, he noted, the salary fund is planned to increase up to $295.6 m. At that, in 2007 the number of staff is planned to increase due to launching of new manufactures up to 65 th. individuals from about 63.4 th. by the end of 2006, V. Dzhumanbaev said. To talk about socially significant projects of the company, executed in 2006, he informed that the corporation invested $77.4 m in social spheres, compare to $43.8 m in 2005. Additionally, E. Oghay informed that in 2006 the company directed about KZT111.5 bn to solution some ecological problem in the regions, in which production facilities of the corporation are located (the current 123.75/$1). Kazakhmys is the biggest in Kazakhstan copper producer, in 2005 he offered shares on London stock exchange on behalf of Kazakhmys Plc., registered in Britain. Kazakhmys includes four manufacture integrations: Zhezkasgantsvetmet, Balkhashtsvetmet, Vostoktsvetmet, Karagandatsvetmet. [2007-03-30]