Kazakhmys (Kazakhstan) increased copper production to 309.2 th. tons in January-September 2001

/IRBIS, Oct 3, 01/ - REUTERS informs, with the reference to the PR department head of Kazakhmys, Vladimir Nikolaev, that the copper corporation increased refined copper output from 291,500 tons to 309,200 tons in 9 months of 2001. It is the only major exporter of copper in Kazakhstan. The corporation is said to continue constructing zinc plant in Balkhash, Artemievskii mine in Eastern-Kazakhstan region, Shatyrkol mine in Jambyl region, Jaman-Aibat mine in Karagandy region. It has already started developing Samarskoe (Nurkazgan) field near Temirtau and restoring Karagaily GOK, which has been idle for many years, is said. In 9 months of 2001 ore production increased from 27.6m tons to 29.4m tons relative to similar period of last year. Following are production figures of Corporation Kazakhmys. -------------------------------------------------------------- January-September January-September 2001 2000 ------------------------ ----------------- ----------------- refined copper (tons) 309,200 291,500 silver (kg) 484,956 415,150 gold (kg) 4,254 2,787 concentrated zinc (tons) 53,000 68,900 ore production (m tons) 29.4 27.6 coal production (m tons) 5.0 4.7 -------------------------------------------------------------- Total commodity output of the corporation equaled KZT85.3 bn at world prices compared with KZT82.3 bn in similar period of last year. It is the major metallurgical company in Kazakhstan and controlled by South- Korean Samsung.