Kazakhstan expects to join the world’s top 10 producers of high-quality refined copper following the launch of the Aktogay Copper Smelting Plant, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

Tokayev officially launched construction of the new facility in the Abai Region via a video conference. The plant is designed to cover the entire production cycle, from ore extraction and processing to the manufacture of finished metal, according to Aqorda.

The project is being implemented by KAZ Minerals Group, with Chinese company NFC serving as the engineering partner. Total investment is estimated at approximately $1.8 billion, and the project is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs.

The first copper cathode is scheduled to be produced in 2030. In addition to copper, the plant will manufacture metallic gold, silver and other by-products.

“The new facility will have an annual capacity of 300,000 tonnes of copper cathodes. This will fully meet the needs of the domestic market. Once the plant is operational, Kazakhstan will join the world’s top 10 producers of high-quality refined copper. In addition, the facility will produce gold and sulfuric acid. The implementation of such a large-scale project will make a significant contribution to the development of the domestic metallurgical industry,” Tokayev said.

During the video conference, the president stressed that Kazakhstan, which possesses vast mineral reserves, must make effective use of its natural resources. The country has more than 9,500 mineral deposits, extracts approximately 160 million tonnes of ore annually and produces around 3.5 million tonnes of copper concentrate.

Tokayev also called for greater adoption of digital technologies and artificial intelligence across the industrial sector.

“At the recently held AI & Digital Bridge forum, I set a number of specific tasks for the government. It is important to take these into account during the construction of the plant. Ensuring high construction quality and meeting established deadlines are absolute priorities,” he said, expressing gratitude to Kazakh specialists and Chinese partners involved in the project.

The president also highlighted the growth of Kazakhstan’s manufacturing industry. Last year, the sector’s output reached $60 billion, while 540 industrial projects were implemented across the country over the past three years, creating approximately 50,000 permanent jobs.

Tokayev said the new copper smelting plant would provide further momentum to Kazakhstan’s economic development.