Qarmet has commenced manganese ore mining at Zakhidny Karazhal

Kazakhstan’s mining and metallurgical company Qarmet announced the start of manganese ore production at the Zakhidny Karazhal deposit. At the Atasu mine, two underground tunnels moving towards each other were connected for the first time in 30 years. This event opened up the possibility of integrating a new horizon with a motor transport incline – the main underground artery of the mine.

The implementation of the project has provided full access for large-scale equipment to remote areas, whereas previously the work was mainly carried out manually without the use of high-performance equipment. This created the conditions for the launch of a new strategic direction – manganese ore mining.

The mine currently produces 2.2 million tons of ore per year. According to the company’s strategy, this figure is expected to increase to 9.5 million tons by 2028, i.e., more than four times. In 2026, Qarmet plans to extract 500,000 tons of manganese ore with a projected capacity of 2.5 million tons per year. The total reserves of manganese ore at the deposit are estimated at 349 million tons.

The company notes that it is already receiving requests for manganese supplies, which is widely used in the production of wear-resistant steels, mechanical engineering, construction, rail production, as well as in the chemical and battery industries.

Among the department’s key investment projects are the construction of the Central Group of Shafts and the processing of accumulated sludge. The total investment exceeds $400 million. The implementation of the program is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs and become a driver of socio-economic development in the region.

As a reminder, in 2025, Qarmet produced 3.8 million tons of steel and 3.5 million tons of iron ore concentrate, with coal production amounting to 7.5 million tons. Earlier, as part of its business plan for 2025, the company announced its goal to produce 3.7 million tons of steel.