Our People > Dmitry Pokidaev

Dmitry Pokidaev

Journalist

Dmitry Pokidaev is a journalist based in Astana, Kazakhstan, with experience at some of the country's top media outlets. Before his career in journalism, Pokidaev worked as an academic, teaching Russian language and literature.

Articles

Copper Smelting

Kazakhstan Targets 50% Increase in Refined Copper Output with Balkhash Smelter

Kazakhstan plans to increase refined copper production by around 50% after approving the construction of a new smelter in Balkhash, one of the country’s largest industrial projects in recent years. The government expects the plant to expand exports of products with greater added value and reinforce Kazakhstan’s position among the world’s leading copper producers. The investment agreement was signed between the Ministry of Industry and Construction and Qazaq Smelter LLP and approved by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. The project forms part of Kazakhstan’s strategy to increase domestic processing of mineral resources and reduce exports of raw materials. Private investment is estimated at 750 billion tenge, or approximately $1.6 billion. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with commissioning planned for 2030. The smelter will have an annual production capacity of 300,000 metric tons of cathode copper, 10 metric tons of gold, 300 metric tons of silver, and more than 1.5 million metric tons of sulfuric acid. According to government estimates, the new facility will raise Kazakhstan’s total refined copper output to more than 800,000 metric tons per year. Exports of cathode copper and other processed copper products are expected to increase from 460,000 metric tons to 760,000 metric tons annually. The project will create around 1,200 permanent jobs. Kazakh citizens are expected to account for 90% of the workforce when the plant enters operation, rising to 95% over time. The investor has also committed to financing the education of 50 students each year at educational institutions in Karaganda Region to help train future specialists. Government data show that Kazakhstan’s manufacturing sector expanded by 9.8% during the first half of 2026, while cathode copper production reached 232,000 metric tons. Officials have repeatedly identified deeper processing of mineral resources as one of the country’s principal industrial-policy priorities. Kazakhstan already ranks among the world’s major copper producers. Production is concentrated within several vertically integrated mining groups, led by Kazakhmys, which operates mining and smelting facilities in Zhezkazgan and Balkhash. Other major producers include KAZ Minerals, whose flagship operations are Aktogay and Bozshakol, and Kazzinc, which produces refined copper alongside zinc, lead, and precious metals. The new Balkhash smelter is part of Kazakhstan’s effort to increase domestic processing as global demand for copper rises. Expanding power grids and the growth of electric vehicles are expected to support demand in the coming years. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Australia’s C29 Metals partnered with Kazakh companies to explore new copper and gold deposits. The partnership is another example of international interest in the country’s mineral resources.

4 weeks ago

Future Games

Future Games 2026 Begin in Astana, Kazakhstan

The third edition of the Future Games has opened in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, bringing traditional sport and esports together through digital technology. The opening ceremony was attended by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, and Rustam Minnikhanov, head of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan. The competition runs from July 29 to August 9 and features more than 800 athletes from more than 50 countries competing for a prize fund of $4.75 million across eight disciplines. They include phygital football, phygital basketball, phygital martial arts, a phygital shooter, phygital dance, and tournaments in Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and PUBG: Battlegrounds. Opening the Games, Tokayev said the tournament would provide fresh momentum for the development of the international phygital movement. “I am confident that the Future Games in Astana will give a powerful boost to the international phygital movement at the intersection of traditional sport and the gaming industry. It combines sport and intellect while also bringing together physical ability and intellectual potential,” Tokayev said. The Future Games have been held since 2024. The inaugural event took place in Kazan, while the second edition was hosted by the United Arab Emirates. The competition combines digital and physical formats, with athletes first competing in virtual contests before continuing the same discipline in real-world sporting events. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kazakhstan had originally been scheduled to host the second Future Games in 2025 but postponed the event by a year after redirecting public funds to deal with the aftermath of devastating spring floods. Several members of Kazakhstan’s parliament later proposed postponing the 2026 Games as well because of concerns over public spending.

4 weeks ago

Marketplace

Kazakhstan Yet to Receive Wildberries Warehouse Request

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration has said it is prepared to consider a request from RWB, the company formed through the merger of online marketplace Wildberries and outdoor advertising operator Russ, to establish additional warehouse capacity in the country. The company’s reported interest comes amid continuing drone attacks on logistics infrastructure in Russia. The ministry said it has not yet received any formal request from Wildberries. Should one be submitted, it would be considered in accordance with Kazakhstan’s legislation and the country’s national interests. “To date, the Ministry of Trade and Integration has not received any official request from Wildberries regarding the placement of additional warehouse facilities in the Republic of Kazakhstan. If such proposals are submitted, they will be considered in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and with due regard for the country’s national interests,” the ministry said. The ministry added that it supports investment projects aimed at developing modern logistics infrastructure, creating jobs, and expanding cross-border e-commerce. It also stressed that all market participants are subject to the same rules under Kazakhstan’s legislation and the regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union, with no special preferences or exemptions. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, RWB began looking for warehouse space in Kazakhstan after a series of drone attacks on logistics facilities in Russia that began on July 18. The company is seeking approximately 100,000 square meters of warehouse space, although market participants say there is currently no single vacant logistics complex of that size in Kazakhstan. The expansion of logistics infrastructure has become a priority as Kazakhstan’s online retail market grows. The Ministry of Trade and Integration says the sector is now more than seven times larger than five years ago, surpassing $6.1 billion and accounting for 14.1% of retail turnover. By 2030, the government wants online sales to account for 20% of the domestic retail market.

4 weeks ago

Football

Dastan Satpayev Scores on Chelsea Debut

Kazakhstan international Dastan Satpayev has opened his account for Premier League club Chelsea, scoring in his first appearance for the London side, albeit in a pre-season friendly. Satpayev made his first appearance for Chelsea on July 28 at the age of 17, just weeks before his 18th birthday, after which he will become eligible to complete his move under FIFA regulations governing the international transfer of minors. Chelsea agreed to sign the Kazakhstan forward last year but postponed completion of the transfer until he reached the required age. Having joined the club for its pre-season preparations earlier this month, Satpayev was named in the starting line-up for Tuesday’s friendly against Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers and opened the scoring in the sixth minute, netting his first goal for Chelsea. Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso’s decision to hand the young Kazakh a place in the starting eleven was quickly rewarded. Satpayev was played through on goal in the 6th minute, finishing with aplomb by rifling a drive into the top corner. He was also instrumental in setting up Chelsea's second. Satpayev is appearing for Chelsea during pre-season as an international trialist, with permission from Kairat and his parents. His five-year Chelsea contract is due to begin when he turns 18 on August 12. Chelsea reportedly agreed a deal worth around €4 million for the forward. “I’ve known Dastan since last year, from my visit to Almaty, and you can already see he’s a different player,” Alonso said after Satpayev’s first appearance for Chelsea. “He’s a real threat around the opposition’s penalty area and attacks the space around the striker extremely well, arriving from wider positions. This is his first experience at a major club, and he acquitted himself well. He’s very strong and very quick. I think Chelsea supporters are going to be genuinely impressed by him.” Satpayev’s rise has been remarkably swift. In 2024, aged 15, he made his senior debut for Kairat in Kazakhstan’s League Cup and also made five appearances for Kairat-Zhastar in the second-tier First League. In 2025, he scored on his Kazakhstan Premier League debut against Kairat’s long-time rivals Astana, shortly after attracting Chelsea’s interest. Later that year, he made his senior debut for Kazakhstan and scored his first international goal against Belgium. At club level, Satpayev has already won the Kazakhstan Premier League title and the Kazakhstan Super Cup with Kairat. If he establishes himself in Chelsea’s first team, Satpayev would become the first Kazakh footballer to play in the Premier League, following the breakthrough made by Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov, who joined Manchester City. The progress of Satpayev and Khusanov reflects a broader trend, with footballers from Central Asia increasingly attracting the attention of Europe’s leading clubs. For Kazakhstan, however, Satpayev could become a genuine trailblazer at the highest level of English football and help open the door for the next generation of players.

4 weeks ago

Digitalization

Kazakhstan to Pilot Unified Smart Turmys Utilities Platform

Kazakhstan will begin pilot operation of the first modules of its Smart Turmys digital platform in the fourth quarter, bringing utility billing, subscriber records, and resource consumption data into a single system. The initiative forms part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s ageing housing and utilities sector by combining infrastructure renewal with digital management tools. Industry and Construction Minister Yersayin Nagaspayev announced the timetable at a government meeting. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed the industry and energy ministries to accelerate the platform’s implementation and adopt common standards for utility meters and software by September 1. According to the ministry, Smart Turmys will maintain a unified subscriber registry, provide digital accounting of utility payments, and monitor the consumption of electricity, gas, heat, and water. Officials say the system should improve transparency and help reduce resource losses. The platform will sit alongside Kazakhstan’s Unified Payment Document system, which allows households to receive a single bill covering multiple utility services. The system is already used in 38 cities, 170 districts, and more than 4,500 rural communities. By 2029, the government aims to achieve full metering coverage across utility infrastructure in cities of republican and regional significance. Digitalization is being implemented alongside large-scale physical upgrades. Under Kazakhstan’s national modernization program, more than 800 billion tenge, approximately $1.7 billion, is planned for 45 projects to construct or reconstruct sewage-treatment facilities. Five projects were completed during the past two years. Work is underway in three cities and is scheduled for completion before the end of 2026. The government also hopes the investment program will support domestic manufacturers. Officials say Kazakh companies can supply a significant share of the pipes, cables, reinforced concrete structures, and pipeline fittings required for utility modernization, reducing reliance on imported equipment. For Kazakhstan, the digital push is primarily a response to decades of underinvestment in Soviet-era infrastructure. Much of the country’s utility network was built several decades ago. High-profile failures, including the heating-system collapse in Ekibastuz during the winter of 2022-23, highlighted the economic and social costs of delayed maintenance. Better data may help operators track consumption and resource losses, but the platform cannot substitute for repairs to ageing pipes, heating systems, and treatment facilities. The Smart Turmys project forms part of a broader modernization strategy. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, the national project has a budget of 13 trillion tenge, equivalent to approximately $27.5 billion at the official July 28 exchange rate. The program combines repairs to power plants and engineering networks with digital technologies intended to improve the management and resilience of public utilities.

1 month ago

Biopesticides

Kazakhstan and China to Jointly Develop Biopesticides

Kazakhstani and Chinese researchers have agreed to jointly develop biological crop protection products and prepare for their production in Kazakhstan. A memorandum of understanding was signed by the National Agrarian Research and Education Center, the Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine named after Zhazken Zhiembayev, and the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS). The agreement covers joint research and the development and testing of biopesticides. It also provides for technology exchange and specialist training, as well as the commercialization of research findings. The parties plan to establish local production of biological crop protection products in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture said the project could increase the use of biological products and reduce the country’s dependence on imported crop protection supplies. The memorandum was signed during a visit by representatives of IPPCAAS, China Agricultural University, and Zhongbao. The visit included an international seminar on pest management. Researchers and specialists discussed integrated plant protection and biological pest control. They also considered phytosanitary monitoring and possible joint research projects. The Chinese delegation is expected to visit Kazakhstani research organizations and agricultural enterprises to examine local methods of monitoring major pests. The memorandum follows earlier cooperation between Kazakhstan and China in agricultural science. In recent years, the two countries have expanded joint work on plant protection and crop breeding. Cooperation has also covered food security and agricultural technologies. Interest in biological crop protection is growing elsewhere in Central Asia. A year earlier, Kyrgyzstan conducted nationwide trials of biological pesticides against locusts in an effort to reduce the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact. Domestic production could reduce Kazakhstan’s import costs and give farmers easier access to new crop protection products. The practical impact will depend on whether the research and testing program leads to commercial-scale production.

1 month ago

amnesty

Kazakhstan Amnesty Clears $48 Million in Unpaid Fines

Kazakhstan has written off unpaid administrative fines for more than 680,000 people under the country’s first administrative amnesty, Prosecutor General Berik Asylov said. The amnesty was applied to 681,700 people in 1.3 million administrative cases in less than a month, according to Asylov. The canceled fines were worth 22.8 billion tenge, or approximately $48 million. Asylov published the figures in a post on X. The measure formed part of an amnesty signed on July 1, the day Kazakhstan’s new Constitution took effect. It extended an amnesty to selected administrative offenses for the first time, alongside provisions covering criminal cases. It covered unpaid fines imposed on Kazakh citizens, individual entrepreneurs, private notaries, private bailiffs, lawyers, and legal consultants. Fines imposed by courts were excluded, along with offenses considered too serious for clemency. According to Asylov, the amnesty nevertheless applied to violations under more than 380 articles of Kazakhstan’s Code of Administrative Offenses. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that the government announced plans for Kazakhstan’s first administrative amnesty after voters approved the new Constitution in a March referendum. The authorities said at the time that it would cover offenses that did not threaten public or national security. Recipients were not required to file applications or submit documents. Kazakhstan’s unified register of administrative proceedings identified eligible cases using the criteria set out in the law, allowing the authorities to issue decisions digitally. Asylov said people were informed by text message when their fines were canceled. Related enforcement proceedings were closed and restrictions were lifted. In at least one case cited by prosecutors, an impounded vehicle was returned to its owner. The broader amnesty law has also prompted questions about whether repeated acts of clemency are being used to correct penalties that were too severe in the first place. Lawyers and rights advocates interviewed by BES.media said the measure would ease the burden on convicted and fined individuals, while some argued that frequent amnesties may point to deeper problems in legislation and judicial practice. Lawyer Dzhokhar Utebekov told the outlet that amnesties effectively soften the impact of strict criminal laws and sentencing practices. Rights advocate Yevgeny Zhovtis criticized the importance placed on repayment of damages, which can shift financial pressure onto prisoners’ families, and the exclusion of some offenses that rights groups regard as politically sensitive. Former lawmaker Abzal Kuspan disputed that interpretation, telling BES.media that an amnesty is a separate act of state clemency and does not in itself indicate shortcomings in the courts. Those concerns relate mainly to the criminal provisions of the law. The administrative amnesty followed a more straightforward process, with eligible unpaid fines canceled according to predetermined criteria rather than through a new examination of each case. The criminal amnesty could affect about 16,500 people. Around 4,500 could be released or avoid punishment, including approximately 1,500 people held in prisons or other detention facilities, while more than 10,000 could have their sentences reduced.

1 month ago

Satellite Communications

Kazakhstan Allocates More Than $22 Million for New Communications Satellite

Kazakhstan has begun upgrading its national satellite infrastructure by financing the development of a new communications satellite, KazSat-3R, which is expected to replace the existing KazSat-3 by the end of the decade. The government is also working to expand the country’s Earth-observation satellite network and develop domestic manufacturing capacity. It is also preparing for commercial launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The government has allocated approximately $22.3 million from its reserve for the KazSat-3R project. The new satellite will replace KazSat-3, whose planned service life expires in 2029. Kazakhstan’s national satellite communications system currently consists of two satellites, KazSat-2 and KazSat-3, as well as two ground control centers, Akkol and Kokterek. The system provides television and radio broadcasting, data transmission, telephone services, and internet access across Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and parts of Russia. KazSat-3’s approaching retirement is one reason for its replacement. In 2023, a power-system malfunction temporarily took the satellite out of service, disrupting satellite television broadcasts and exposing Kazakhstan’s dependence on its own orbital infrastructure. In May 2025, Senator Andrey Lukin, chair of the Senate Committee on International Relations, Defense and Security, previously said KazSat-3R could require 40.2 billion tenge, approximately $86 million, in state financing. He also warned that public procurement rules could restrict the participation of foreign satellite manufacturers and called for the project to be handled under a special procedure. The KazSat system is used by 19 telecommunications operators and provides television services to more than two million subscribers, the government said. It supports television and radio broadcasting, as well as data transmission. The system also provides mobile communications and internet access, particularly in remote areas where building ground-based infrastructure is difficult. Government figures indicate that 99% of Kazakhstan’s population has access to high-speed internet. The country’s population stood at 20,5 million on June 1, 2026, the Bureau of National Statistics reported. The new communications satellite is one element of Kazakhstan’s national space program. The country plans to launch three KazEOSat-MR Earth-observation satellites in 2027 to replace KazEOSat-2. Three more satellites are planned for 2029–2030, which would bring the constellation to six. Kazakhstan is also developing its own launch infrastructure. The Baiterek project, implemented with Russia, has modernized a launch complex at the Baikonur Cosmodrome for the Soyuz-5 launch vehicle. The first test launch took place successfully on April 30, 2026. The government said the test confirmed the complex’s operational readiness. The cost of a commercial Soyuz-5 launch is estimated at between $50 million and $60 million, depending on the rocket configuration and upper stage. By comparison, a commercial launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is priced at approximately $67 million. Kazakh authorities expect this cost structure to allow the project to compete in the international launch-services market. Kazakhstan is also considering satellite exports as a potential area of commercial growth. Domestic companies are exploring projects to manufacture satellites for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mongolia, and Nigeria, with a combined potential value estimated at approximately $75 million. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia,...

1 month ago

Boxing

Kazakhstan’s Zhanibek Alimkhanuly Moves to Super Middleweight After Doping Ban

Kazakhstan’s Zhanibek Alimkhanuly has announced that he is moving to the super middleweight division following a one-year suspension for a doping violation, relinquishing his remaining World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight title and potentially setting up future bouts against some of boxing’s biggest names, including Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Alimkhanuly had established himself as one of boxing’s leading middleweights after unifying the WBO and International Boxing Federation (IBF) world titles. His career was disrupted late last year, however, when he tested positive for a banned substance ahead of a planned title unification fight with World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Erislandy Lara. The suspension, which runs until December 2026, also cost him the IBF championship after he was unable to make a mandatory title defense. Before the suspension was due to expire, Alimkhanuly had been expected to defend his remaining WBO title against the UK’s Denzel Bentley. Instead, he announced that he would vacate the belt and move up to the super middleweight division, where the weight limit is 168 pounds and many of boxing’s highest-profile fighters now compete. Bentley has since been elevated to full WBO middleweight champion. “We made a lot of noise in the middleweight division and won two world titles. It was here that we brought the ‘Kazakh Style’ to the global stage. Now it’s time to continue that journey at super middleweight,” Alimkhanuly wrote on Instagram. Alimkhanuly received the WBO title in 2022 after American Demetrius Andrade declined to defend the belt against him. A year later, he stopped Germany’s Vincenzo Gualtieri to unify the WBO and IBF championships. His middleweight résumé also includes a unanimous decision victory over the UK’s Denzel Bentley and a successful title defense against France’s Anauel Ngamissengue. The move to super middleweight revives the possibility of a long-discussed fight with Mexico’s undisputed champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, whom Alimkhanuly has repeatedly challenged in recent years. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, another prominent Kazakhstani boxer, Olympic champion Daniyar Yeleussinov, was sentenced to 20 days in administrative detention and banned from driving for seven years after multiple alcohol-related traffic incidents.

1 month ago

Automotive Manufacturing

Kazakhstan Plans BYD Assembly and New Domestic Vehicle Brands

Kazakhstan plans to begin assembling passenger vehicles for Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD next year and launch buses under a domestic brand as it expands local vehicle production and develops its electric mobility sector. The announcement came during a government meeting, where Astana Group chairman Nurlan Smagulov said the company had reached agreements with BYD following negotiations held in Shanghai earlier this month. Production of BYD passenger vehicles is expected to begin in 2027. “Next year we will begin producing BYD passenger cars. The company manufactures only hybrid and fully electric vehicles,” Smagulov said, noting that BYD already operates a production facility in neighboring Uzbekistan and is seeking to expand its presence in the Kazakh market. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said the government would support the project and urged the company to accelerate implementation, describing domestic electric vehicle production as a priority for Kazakhstan’s industrial policy. Astana Group also plans to introduce a new bus brand, Astana, developed jointly by Kazakh and Chinese engineers. Assembly of diesel- and natural gas-powered buses is scheduled to begin in November, while production of electric buses is expected to start in March next year. Adil Shaikemelov, deputy director of SaryarkaAvtoProm, part of the Allur Group, said the company is developing a domestic passenger car brand with an undisclosed international partner. He said the first vehicle under the new brand could enter production within three to four years. The government is working with BYD to develop a nationwide network of high-speed charging stations, Industry and Construction Minister Yersaiyn Nagaspayev said. Kazakhstan is also expanding its automotive workforce. Science and Higher Education Minister Sayasat Nurbek said about 4,000 students are enrolled in automotive-related programs at 19 universities, while more than 3,000 government scholarships have been allocated this year. Additional specialists are training abroad through the Bolashak scholarship program. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is also preparing to manufacture autonomous SITRAK heavy trucks as part of broader efforts to localize vehicle production and deepen industrial cooperation with Chinese manufacturers.

1 month ago

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