Infrastructure

Before a formal presentation of its program on the active increase of uranium production, in Kazakhstan in 2004, Kazatomprom had begun constructing new mines as well as reconstructing its existing ones.
 
Within a short time, in the south of Kazakhstan , a powerful uranium production industry was established; based on advanced technologies with a highly skilled personnel and a developed infrastructure.
 
Accurate operating schedules and a network system of planning (worked out by company specialists) has made it possible for Kazatomprom, along with its partners, to implement set targets both promptly and without extra expenditure or human resources.
 
To maintain the fast pace of mine construction, and their putting into operation, Kazatomprom has created the following required infrastructure facilities:
  • Construction and reconstruction of 783 km of power transmission lines;
  • In the earliest possible timeframe, more power transmission lines, to the order of 172 km, will be put into operation;
  • 13 substations have been constructed or reconstructed;
  • Highways with an overall length of 557 km have been constructed and reconstructed;
  • A new 303 m (overall length) bridge has been constructed across the Syr-Darya river;
  • A new bridge across the Arys river has been put into service;
  • 2 terminal bases in the towns of Taukent and Kokshoky have been expanded and updated, new terminal bases have been put into service at Zhanakorgan and Timur stations and a further terminal base is also planned for construction in the town of Appak;
  • A railway station with access railway lines, with an overall length of 2.5 km, has been constructed;
  • In the soonest possible time, a railway line of 150 km in length will be laid from the town of Appak to Zhaman Aibat station;
  • A sulphuric acid production plant, the "SKZ-U", is now being built for the supply of the required amount of acid to the following mines: Irkol, Zarechnoye, Yuzhnoye Zarechnoye, Kharassan-1, Kharassan-2, Severny and Yuzhny Karamurun. The rated capacity of the plant is estimated at  half a million tons of sulphuric acid per year or 1,500 tons per day. Construction began in March 2009 with full operation planned for the third quarter of 2011.