Kazakhmys plans to launch the ore mining and processing enterprise attached to Nurkazganskiy mine in the first half-year

/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Almaty, March 30, 07/ - Metal corporation Kazakhmys plans to put in operation the ore mining and smelting enterprise attached to Nurkazganskiy mine (in Karaganda region, in the center of Kazakhstan) in the first half-year of 2007. "The object under construction of no small importance, which we plan to finish this year, is Nurkazganskiy mine. Open mining works are being carried out successfully there, underground part is under construction now, and also construction of the mining and smelting enterprise is being maintained. It is planned to launch the enterprise in the first half-year, to start underground works in late 2007 - 2008," the deputy chairman of the Board of Corporation Kaakhmys LLP Vladimir Dzhumanbaev said at the press conference on Friday in the press center of Interfax-Kazakhstan agency in Almaty. According to his information, "435 m was invested in construction of the mining and smelting enterprise and mining works development in 2006, and this year it is planned to invest about $70 m". Besides, the deputy chairman of the Board reminded that in 2007 the company intends to finish construction of the manufacture for sulfur utilization in Balkhash (sulfuric-acid plant). "For 2006 it was invested in the sulfuric plant's construction over $47 m, this year we plan to finish this project, after investing about $27 m more, including purchasing of tank-wagons," V. Dzhumanbaev said. Besides, the chairman of the Board of Corporation Kazakhmys LLP Eduard Oghay, who took part in that press conference, reminded that construction of the mentioned manufacture would allow the company to reduce barium anhydride emission from the current 800 th. tones to 140 th. tones. "It means we will enter into limits of the standards, existing in the west," he stressed. V. Dzhumanbaev also informed, "financing of the construction of Aktogayskiy mine is in process". "It has been already invested about 69 m dollars in 2006," he said and specified that this amount was spent mainly on construction of power lines with extension at 800 km from Karaganda to Aktogay. According to his information, total capital expenditures on accomplishing this project is directed at $1 bn. "However, this amount will be defined more accurately after the project is turned over," he said. Besides, in late 2006 it was informed that Kazakhmys will keep developing the program on construction of one of the biggest in the world mining objects - Aktogayskiy mining and smelting enterprise. To start on construction of Aktogayskiy mining and smelting enterprise within Kazakhmys is planned after the Council of directors will approve the special program. It is planned that Aktogay will reach the project capacity in 2011 with producing volume about 50 m tones ore and copper production within the range of 150-160 th. tones a year taking into account its low content in this ore. 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]