During a working trip to the Kostanay region, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, visited the city of Rudny, where he reviewed the development of ferrous metallurgy based on the Sokolovsko-Sarbai Mining and Processing Plant (SSGPO), as well as the progress of the heating season at the Rudny Thermal Power Plant, reports Kazpravda.kz citing the press service of the Kazakh government.
The Prime Minister was briefed on the current results of the Sokolovsko-Sarbai Mining and Processing Plant and the plans of ERG for further development. Currently, JSC "SSGPO" is a major player in Kazakhstan's mining industry. The plant's production capacity reaches 35 million tons of ore, 9 million tons of concentrates, and 8 million tons of pellets per year. In addition to domestic markets, products are exported to Russia and China, with over 9 million tons of goods shipped in the first 11 months of this year, amounting to more than 371 billion tenge.
Here, the General Director of ERG in Kazakhstan, Serik Shakhazhanov, presented a project to the Prime Minister for the construction of a plant aimed at producing hot-briquetted iron (HBI) with a metallization degree of over 90%. The projected capacity of the plant will be 2 million tons of HBI per year. The investment volume exceeds 500 billion tenge, and 1,100 jobs will be created. The project is planned to be implemented by the end of 2028.
A full-cycle metallurgical cluster is being gradually formed in the region. The Prime Minister emphasized that the project for the construction of the hot-briquetted iron plant will be an important step towards strengthening the industry and enhancing the country's competitiveness. A major infrastructure project has also been approved for the construction of a main gas pipeline from the Aktobe region to the city of Kostanay, which will provide the plant with the necessary volume of gas. The Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with the regional akimat, has been tasked with facilitating the construction of the plant.
Olzhas Bektenov also visited the Rudny Thermal Power Plant, which is part of SSGPO. The director of the plant, Vasily Novoselov, reported on the ongoing modernization and operations of the power station. Preparations for the autumn-winter period included repairs to the main and auxiliary equipment. A necessary stock of fuel and materials has been formed in the warehouse. To reduce environmental impact, a project for an automated emissions monitoring system at the smokestacks is being implemented, allowing for real-time responses to any changes in the technological process.
Here, the Prime Minister was also informed about the progress of the heating season in the region. The Deputy Akim of the region, Berik Tanjarykov, reported that the unified energy system is operating normally. The area has a total of 4 thermal power plants and 3 boiler houses with a total installed capacity of over 100 Gcal/hour. Over the past three years, due to equipment repairs, the wear of the heating supply networks has been reduced from 57% to 45.7%.
Olzhas Bektenov emphasized the importance of timely modernization of communal infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted operations of strategically important industrial facilities.
