Metal Mining will construct a copper smelter plant with an annual capacity of 300,000 tons of copper in Kazakhstan, Trend reports. The agreement was signed between KAZ Minerals Smelting, the customer, and China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Company (NFC) as the service provider for the design and purchase of technological equipment. NFC Kazakhstan will be the contractor for construction and commissioning works.
The plant will be situated near the settlement of Aktogay in the Abay region. It will source copper concentrate from the mining and processing facilities in Bozshakol and Aktogay, as well as the Vostoktsvetmet processing facilities.
The construction of the plant will create a cluster combining one of the world’s largest copper mines with modern copper smelting production. The project, with an estimated cost of $1.5 billion, is expected to create over 1,000 new jobs. The plant is slated for commissioning by the end of 2028.
The government of Kazakhstan noted that the high-tech enterprise will be the largest in the country for the production of high-value copper products, adhering to international environmental standards. The facility will process copper cathode and raw materials containing copper to meet the needs of the internal market.
China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Company is a government-controlled company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The company is involved in international project contracts and the development of non-ferrous metal resources. 
