JSC Kazakhmys - Zhezkazgan

Acid Plant Database August 19, 2026

Owner	JSC Kazakhmys Corporation
Background	- 1971 Smelting operations begin at the Zhezkazgan complex - 1992 The company, OJSC Zhezgazgantzvetmet, was formed by the Government of Kazakhstan. The Government reduced its holding from 100% to 0%, in a series of privatisations from 1992 to 2002 - June 1995 Samsung Corporation of Korea took over management of the company and in -1996 acquired a 40% stake, which was subsequently sold - October 2005 The Group listed on London Stock Exchange
Location	Kazakhstan
Website	www.kazakhmys.com
Plant	Zhezkazgan Complex
Plant	Plant No. 1	Plant No. 2	Plant No. 3	Plant No. 4
Coordinates	47° 46' 18" N, 67° 43' 27.5" E	47° 46' 18" N, 67° 43' 29" E	47° 46' 18.5" N, 67° 43' 30" E	47° 46' 18.5" N, 67° 43' 31.5" E
Type of Plant	Metallurgical
Gas Source	Copper Electric Furnace (2) Pierce-Smith Converters
Wet Gas Cleaning	Quench - Gas Cooling Tower 1 - Gas Cooling Tower 2 - 1st Stage WESP - Humidifying Tower - 2nd Stage WESP	Quench - Gas Cooling Tower 1 - Gas Cooling Tower 2 - 1st Stage WESP - Humidifying Tower - 2nd Stage WESP	Quench - Gas Cooling Tower 1 - Gas Cooling Tower 2 - 1st Stage WESP - Humidifying Tower - 2nd Stage WESP	Quench - Gas Cooling Tower 1 - Gas Cooling Tower 2 - 1st Stage WESP - Humidifying Tower - 2nd Stage WESP
Plant Capacity	-	-	-	-
SA/DA	SA	SA	SA	SA
Status	-	-	-	-
Year Built	-	-	-	-
Technology	-	-	-	-
Contractor	-	-	-	-
Remarks	Two of the four plants are operating. All plants are in poor condition. Zhezkazgan is a fully integrated facility, including mining, mineral processing, smelting and refining operations. In 2007, Zhezkazgan was responsible for 70% of Group mined ore output and 49% of Group's cathode output. Zhezkazgan also contains the Groups only copper rod production facility. The Zhezkazgan Complex comprises: Mining Operations - Underground mines – South, Stepnoy, East, West, Annensky and Zhomart (formerly Zhaman-Aybat) - Open pit mines – North Other Operations - Mineral processing facilities – Zhezkazgan No. 1 and No. 2 and Satpaev concentrators, with the production of copper concentrate from mined ore. - A smelting/refining operation - producing copper cathode and silver in slimes, which is sent to Balkhash for recovery into silver granules. - A continuous-casting copper rod plant.
Pictures
Pictures
General	Kazakhmys PLC is an international natural resources company, listed in the UK, with its principal operations in Kazakhstan and the surrounding region. The core business is the production and sale of copper. Kazakhmys is fully integrated from mining ore through to the production of finished metal. The copper division also produces significant volumes of other metals as by-products, including zinc, silver and gold. In 2007 Kazakhmys added two new divisions, Kazakhmys Petroleum and Kazakhmys Gold, in keeping with the Group’s strategic aim of diversifying and participating in the development of the significant natural resource opportunities in Central Asia. MKM is a wholly owned subsidiary, based in Germany, which was acquired in 2004. MKM produces a range of pre and semi finished copper and copper alloy products. Kazakhmys is the largest copper producer in Kazakhstan and in the top ten worldwide. The copper division has operating sites across Kazakhstan with 20 open pit and underground mines, 9 concentrators, a zinc plant and two smelting and refining complexes. The Group owns coal mines and power plants, which supply sufficient energy for its operations and market excess capacity commercially. Fully integrated production and good by products, make Kazakhmys one of the lowest cost copper producers in the world. These advantages, combined with a large reserve base give the Group a strong platform for future growth and development.
References	-
News	August 18, 2026 - Kazakhmys and a consortium of companies from China National Chemical Engineering Company signed a 213.76 million US dollars EPC contract to build a new sulfuric acid plant at the Zhezkazgan Copper Smelter, Qazinform News Agency cites the company’s press service. The contract was signed on August 18 in Zhezkazgan between Kazakhmys and a consortium of companies from China National Chemical Engineering Company (CNCEC). The signing ceremony was attended by Kazakhmys Corporation Chairman of the Management Board Ruslan Oskenali, Ulytau region governor Yesset Baiken and CNCEC Chairman Bao Guangdong. CNCEC, which has international experience in designing and constructing sulfuric acid facilities, including projects in Kazakhstan, will serve as the project’s general contractor. The new plant is part of a broader modernization of the Zhezkazgan Copper Smelter and is aimed at bringing its operations in line with modern environmental standards. The existing metallurgical gas utilization infrastructure was commissioned in the 1970s and now requires comprehensive technological modernization. The project includes the construction of a new sulfuric acid production facility and an upgrade of the system for capturing and cleaning process gases. Planned improvements include the installation of converter enclosures, modern cooling towers, electrostatic precipitators and other gas cleaning equipment. The upgraded system will also feature modern automation and process control technologies. Following completion, the facility is expected to achieve a 99 percent process gas capture rate, while the residual concentration of sulfur dioxide in treated gases is to comply with the requirements of international Best Available Techniques Reference Documents (BREF). The project is expected to significantly reduce SO₂ emissions and lower the environmental impact of the Zhezkazgan Smelter. The new plant will have a designed annual production capacity of 350,000 tons of sulfuric acid and will be capable of processing up to 300,000 normal cubic meters of process gases per hour. The facility is preliminarily scheduled to be commissioned in 2028. The construction of the new sulfuric acid plant is primarily an investment in Zhezkazgan’s environmental safety and the long-term sustainability of the enterprise. We are modernizing production with a view to the decades ahead. It is fundamentally important for us not only to build a modern facility, but also to ensure the declared environmental performance, high quality of work and compliance with the project schedule, Oskenali said. Following the signing of the contract, the project will enter its active implementation phase. Full-scale mobilization and preparatory work at the production site are scheduled to begin by the end of 2026, while construction and installation works are expected to take around 29 months. The construction of the new sulfuric acid plant is part of a long-term modernization program for the Zhezkazgan Copper Smelter. The project is expected to improve the reliability of the gas cleaning system, bring production in line with modern environmental requirements and create a foundation for the sustainable operation of one of Kazakhstan’s key metallurgical enterprises. Earlier, Qazinform reported Kazakhstan and China expand cooperation in industry, energy, and construction.

MTPD - Metric Tonne per Day STPD - Short Ton per Day
MTPA - Metric Tonne per Annum STPA - Short Ton per Annum
SA - Single Absorption
DA - Double Absorption

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