The first ever in Kazakhstan Molybdenum Refinery has opened 21st April, 2006 at the Stepnogorsk uranium mill under trust management of Kazatomprom.  The nation’s some 250 thousand tons of Molybdenum reserves representing approximately one sixth of total World provide a stable ground for Kazakhstan to become one of the global leader on the global molybdenum market.

A turn key construction project has been accomplished in a record short time of 96 days.  After 3 months test run the refinery will reach its nominal capacities of 500 thousand tons per annum. The first commercial lot of the product is planned for May-June of 2006.

In the beginning the facility will process molybdenum ore concentrate for export.  In the future, the ore concentrate will be processed into technical grade molybdenum oxide and ferromolybdenum.  The facility will provide for new 130 jobs.

The processing facility project was developed in cooperation between Chinese ENFI engineering research institute of non-ferrous metals and the Institute of High Technologies/Kazatomprom.  The plant equipment was supplied from six Chinese machine-building plants of trade and industrial company Xingian.

Shorskoye molybdenum deposit with 21 thousand tons of molybdenum resources is a primary source of raw materials for the refinery.  For development of the deposit a limited liability partnership MolyKen was established on 6th July 2005 with participation of British Eurika mining company.

Molybdenum is used for production of specialty steel, as catalysts for oil-refining industry.  The new facility opens new prospects to Kazakhstan’s molybdenum industry.

Kazatomprom plans to invest over USD180 million in Stepnogorsk between 2005 and 2007, to ensure commercial production for USD200 million per year from 2010.