Kazakh President Reviews Plans for Growth and Environmental Measures
Astana, The Gulf Observer: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held discussions with Andrey Lavrentyev, Chairman of the Qarmet JSC Board of Directors and head of the Allur Group of Companies. The meeting centered on the current state and future prospects of Qarmet, focusing on stability measures, production expansion plans, and initiatives to enhance labor safety.
Tokayev, informed about the enterprise’s operations, stressed the paramount importance of personnel safety, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive upgrade of equipment and technical infrastructure to prevent emergencies. The President was briefed on the meeting between Qarmet’s leadership and the metallurgical and coal industry workers union, which resulted in the signing of a joint development agreement for a future collective agreement between the company and its employees.
Andrey Lavrentyev shared Qarmet’s strategic goal to regain its status as a metallurgy leader in Central Asia and the CIS by 2028. The ambitious plan includes a 64% increase in production to five million tons, an 88% rise in iron ore concentrate to five million tons, and a 47% boost in coal production to nine million tons annually.
Environmental concerns in the region took center stage during the meeting, with President Tokayev stressing the need for decisive measures to improve the environmental situation in Temirtau, particularly through the conversion of equipment to natural gas.
The President was also updated on the achievements and future plans of the Allur machine-building enterprise. In 2023, the company set a record for the domestic automotive industry by producing over 90,000 vehicles. Plans for the coming year include the launch of CKD production of Chevrolet Onix cars and the setup of equipment for mass production of Škoda vehicles. Additionally, construction is underway for a Kia Qazaqstan plant in the industrial zone of Kostanay city with a capacity of 70,000 vehicles per year.
President Tokayev emphasized the importance of prioritizing safe labor conditions and urged the timely realization of investment projects, particularly those aimed at improving the environment. The discussions underscored the commitment to sustainable growth, environmental responsibility, and the advancement of Kazakhstan’s industrial capabilities.
