According to the company' s press service chief, Kazakhmys increased last year's January-November output by 36,000 tons, turning out some 330,000 tons of refined copper. The enterprise also manufactured some 85,500 tons of zinc concentrate, improving upon last year's eleven-month results by 25,000 tons. Kazakhmys produced 2 tons of gold ingots and 370 tons of granule silver from January through November. Major steel producer JSC Ispat-Karmet saw an increase in its shipped production for November, reaching 300,000 tons for the first time in many years, according to the company's press service. A statement released by the enterprise revealed that it shipped 305,500 tons of rolled metal during the month.
Total production includes both zinc alloys and ingots.
According to press reports, the firm plans to boost output by three to five percent each year and plan to invest USD 191,5 million over the next five years, as compared to USD 110 million spent in 1997-1999. 10.According to the Kazakhstan Statistics Agency, metals production in most major non-ferrous metals rose in Kazakhstan over the first ten months of 1999. Kazakhstan saw an increase in gold and silver production in 1999, Interfax reported. Despite the drop in global gold prices, strong opportunities exist for gold mining in northern Kazakhstan if production and transportation costs per ounce can be kept to a minimum. Gold is usually targeted for initial mining projects given that it can be easily transported.