Given that Kazzinc's core industrial operations are located close to populated areas, the company bears responsibility over its mining, smelting and refining activities complying with all environmental norms. Kazzinc’s environmental policy is proactive, constantly seeking ways to improve our performance and lessen any negative impact on the environment.

Sulphur-bearing Gas Recycling

Kazzinc has solved its main environmental problem in the reduction of sulphur dioxide emissions in Ust-Kamenogorsk down to a harmless health standard level, which was exceeded five-fold at the time of the company’s establishment. The sulphuric acid plant treating zinc production off-gases was upgraded, the second sulphuric acid plant based on Haldor Topsoe technology for the recycling of sinter gases from lead production was constructed and commissioned. The reconstruction of lead production facilities with the introduction of the environmentally safe ISASMELTPb Furnace and the construction of a third sulphuric acid plant based on MECS technology to service the Copper smelter is close to completion.

Dusts Removal from Gases

There are three dust collecting sections at the Ust-Kamenogorsk Metallurgical Plant for the reduction of solids emission into the environment and for the secondary recovery of metals from flue dusts. The concentration of metals in the dust in the smelter’s off-gases is below the maximum permitted level. For further reduction of dust emissions filters are being replaced and the dust collection system is being upgraded with the recirculation of air flows for secondary dust collection and coarse dust collection.

Arsenic Neutralization

Arsenic contained in Ust-Kamenogorsk's smelter feed is removed in the form of calcium arsenate and arsenite at the Lead smelter. To reduce the risks of a negative environmental impact arising from storage hazards, Kazzinc has constructed a large impregnable clay and concrete lined disposal area, ensuring that toxic impurities are not leached into ground waters. In addition, the top surface of the arsenic containing waste dump accumulated over previous years prior to Kazzinc’s establishment has been covered with impermeable film and clay blankets. The Company continues works designed for safer disposal of arsenic-bearing wastes. Works on arsenic removal from the process in the form of nonleachable ferric arsenate are currently being implemented.

Tishinsky Slime Handling

At the time of its foundation, Kazzinc inherited a sizeable stock of fines in slime form from the crushing and heavy media section of the Tishinsky mine. These had over the years been stockpiled adjacent to the mine, due to the specific requirements for its processing and problem of transporting the material to the Ridder concentrator when frozen during the 6-month winter period. To reduce the inherent risk that heavy metals may leach during open air storage, Kazzinc has constructed a filtering station on site to neutralise the materials before their transportation to a separate flotation section.

Zyrianovsk Concentrator Water Recycling

To date the Zyryanovsk concentrator has been using fresh water for ore processing while process waste waters were discharged into the Bukhtarma river following preliminary treatment in a biological pond. The water discharged with the tailings was not recycled. Kazzinc has developed and implemented a concentrator process water recycling stage for water sourced from the tailings dam, thus minimising fresh water intake and waste water discharge into the river.

Waste Waters Neutralisation

Historically effluents from the Ridder Metallurgical complex were discharged into the Tikhaya river without preliminary treatment. In the beginning of its activity Kazzinc installed limestone filters for acidic waste water neutralisation and then constructed more throrough cleaning systems. The Introduction of the second waste water neutralisation facility has allowed the metallurgical plant to increase its water recirculation from 60% to 100%, thus closing the cycle.

Recycling of Current and Accumulated Production Wastes

Implementing its program of zero-waste production, the Ridder Mining and Concentrating complex uses the light fraction and slimes from the ore crushing and heavy media section, water rock and flotation tailings for the backfilling of underground voids and caving zones of the mines. Apart from its own wastes the complex processes historically accumulated tailings of the Staroye tailings dam for Gold recovery.

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