Kazakh Kazzinc slightly ups zinc production in 2012

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 12 / Trend E. Kosolapova/

Kazakh Kazzinc increased zinc production from 300,800 tons in 2011 to 301,300 tons in 2012, Glencore company, which is the main shareholder of the company reported on Tuesday.

Kazzinc's zinc production from own sources was 227,300 tons, (8 percent decrease, resulting from the expected small reduction in grade during 2012).

Kazzinc's lead metal production hit 82,500 in the reporting period compared to101, 800 tons in 2011. Lead production from own sources was 26,800 tons (25 percent decrease compared to 2011).

The company also reduced copper production from 53,000 in 2011 to 52,600 tons in 2012.
Copper production from own sources in 2012 was 49,600 tons (3 decrease compared to 2011). However, copper cathode production increased by 25,800 tons to 47,300 tons, following the ramp-up at Kazzinc's new copper smelter which was commissioned in 2011.

Gold production in 2012 reached 561,000 compared to 429,000 toz in 2011, silver production increased to 19.808 million toz compared to 9.870 million toz in 2011.

Gold production from own sources was 474,000 toz, 22 percent increase compared to 2011.

This higher production reflects the continued growth at Altyntau as well as the benefits from gold recovered from the copper smelter.

Silver production from own sources was 4.8 million toz (11 percent increase compared to 2011), reflecting an increase in the level of own silver-bearing processed copper concentrates.

Kazzinc is a major fully integrated zinc producer with considerable copper, precious metals and lead credits. The company's core operations are in Kazakhstan, most are in East-Kazakhstan Region. The company was established in 1997 through the merger of Eastern Kazakhstan's three main non-ferrous metal companies - "Ust-Kamenogorsk Lead and Zinc Combinate", "Leninogorsk Polymetallic Combinate" and "Zyryanovsk Lead Combinate". All three producers were majority-owned by the Kazakh government. The controlling block of shares in Kazzinc has been sold to the private sector and Glencore International AG became the company's main investor.