KAZ Minerals produced first cathode copper at Aktogay deposit

KAZ Minerals group, a large copper producer in Kazakhstan, gas produced the first cathode copper at the Aktogay deposit. The complex on the processing of oxidized ore will reach the production capacity of 15 thousand tons of cathode copper a year within half a year.

Aktogay is one of the non-developed deposit’s of the world, the life period of which is 50 years. The first copper at the Aktogay deposit was produced within the shortest period: the Aktogay project was approved by the Board of Directors of KAZ Minerals in December 2012, construction works started in early 2013.

The first oxidized ore was shipped to the heap leaching site in June 2015.

The extraction and processing of oxidized ore at the Aktogay GOK will be held for 11 years.

The construction works at the plant for processing of sulphide ore are held by the schedule. It is planned to put into operation and start production of copper concentrate out of sulphide ore in 2017. The production volume for the first 10 years will make up 90 thousand tons of copper in cathode equivalent a year from a sulphide ore site and 15 thousand tons of cathode copper a year from the oxidized ore site.