After Deadly Mining Accident, Kazakhstan to Inspect Hazardous Industries

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has ordered an audit of industrial facilities to assess their compliance with safety standards following a deadly accident at a Kazakhmys Corporation mine in the Ulytau region. Tokayev described the state of workplace safety in Kazakhstan as “unacceptable”, citing gross violations of safety regulations. He criticized companies for failing to invest adequately in worker protection, leading to industrial accidents, fatalities, and injuries. Government Mandates Safety Overhaul “The President instructed the government to take the following measures to ensure the safety of citizens involved in hazardous production facilities: conduct an audit of facilities for compliance with industrial safety standards, develop and implement modern safety systems, including gas alarms, seismic sensors, and positioning systems,” reads an official statement.  Tokayev also directed authorities to digitize industrial safety systems, introducing automated forecasting and warning mechanisms. Based on the audit’s findings, companies will be required to increase investment in modern safety technologies by adjusting their operational programs. Additionally, the Cabinet of Ministers has been tasked with tightening supervision and regulatory controls in the industrial sector. “These instructions have been placed under special control by the presidential administration,” the statement emphasized. Investigation Into the Mining Tragedy As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, on February 17, an explosion at the Zhomart mine in Zhanaarka district, Ulytau region, killed seven employees of Kazakhmys Corporation LLP.  A government commission was established to investigate the incident, with preliminary findings attributing the accident to a natural gas explosion. Mining operations at the site have been suspended pending the results of the investigation. Two specialized subcommissions have been created: One to determine the cause of the accident. Another to identify possible safety violations. These subcommissions are expected to complete their work by March 1.  Calls for Stronger Oversight Kazakhstan’s parliament is pushing for stricter workplace safety measures, particularly in the mining sector. Mazhilis deputy Arman Kalykov has proposed the creation of a separate state body dedicated to industrial safety, which would report directly to the prime minister.

Seven Killed in Kazakhstan’s Latest Mining Tragedy

A rock collapse at the Zhomart mine in Kazakhstan’s Ulytau region has claimed the lives of seven miners, the press service of Kazakhmys, the mine’s owner, reported. The workers were trapped under the rubble, with preliminary findings suggesting a natural gas explosion as the cause. The incident occurred on Monday at the Zhomart mine, located 180 kilometers from Zhezkazgan, the administrative center of Ulytau region. The mine extracts copper-sulfide ore at a depth of 700 meters using underground mining methods, with an annual production capacity of 3.6 million tons of ore. Rescue efforts began immediately after the collapse, with more than 20 rescuers, seven units of specialized equipment, and canine teams deployed to the site. However, due to damaged communication cables, there was no contact with the trapped miners. By Tuesday morning, all seven bodies had been recovered and brought to the surface. Kazakhmys stated that while a natural gas explosion is uncharacteristic for its mines, it remains a possible cause of the collapse. “According to preliminary data, there was an explosion of natural gas, which is unusual for Kazakhmys Corporation’s mines. The circumstances and causes of the incident are being investigated,” the company said in a statement. The company has pledged financial support to the victims’ families, offering compensation amounting to ten times the employees’ average annual earnings, along with an additional 2 million tenge to cover funeral expenses. Following the incident, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov ordered the creation of a government commission to investigate the causes of the collapse. The commission is led by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and instructed the government to conduct a thorough investigation. He also directed regional authorities and specialized agencies to provide full support to the victims’ families. This marks the second fatal accident at a Kazakhmys facility this year. In January, a worker died at the company’s East Zhezkazgan mine, and in October 2023, a carbon monoxide leak at the Sayak-3 mine resulted in the deaths of two miners who were not evacuated in time. Kazakhstan’s deadliest mining accidents, however, have been linked to ArcelorMittal Temirtau (AMT). The worst industrial disaster in the country’s post-independence history occurred on October 28, 2023, at the Kostenko mine, then owned by AMT. A fire and subsequent explosion at a depth of 700 meters resulted in the deaths of 46 miners. At the time of the accident, between 227 and 252 workers were underground, with 208 successfully evacuated. On Monday, Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General Berik Asylov announced the completion of the investigation into the Kostenko disaster, with ten individuals facing trial under Article 277 of the Criminal Code for violating mining safety regulations. Investigators determined that the fire and explosion were caused by a mechanical spark igniting methane gas. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, the Kostenko mine tragedy led to a shift in ownership of key coal and metallurgical assets in the Karaganda region. Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal was replaced by...