Kazakhstan's Qarmet iron and steel plant intends to complete gasification of production in 2025

ASTANA. May 2 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's Qarmet iron and steel plant, formerly ArcelorMittal Temirtau, has begun gasification of production, the company said.

The project involves connecting to the Saryarka gas pipeline, which runs 25 km from the plant and should ensure the possibility of consuming 1.2 billion cubic meters of gas per year. There are plans to complete all work in 2025.

The plant's transition to pipeline gas will allow it to cease using fuel oil and liquefied gas, which should reduce emissions into the atmosphere by at least 30%.

The ArcelorMittal international concern had owned the country's largest iron and steel plant, ArcelorMittal Temirtau, since the 1990s. Meantime, the authorities unilaterally terminated collaboration with the concern in the second half of 2023 owing to repeated accidents at the metals plant, accompanied by the death of workers.

Andrei Lavrentyev, co-owner of Kazakhstan's Allur automaker, is the new investor in the former assets of ArcelorMittal, including ArcelorMittal Temirtau and a pipe plant in Aktau. The purchase and development of assets should cost Lavrentyev approximately $4 billion according to previously announced figures.