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Posted On

07
November
2022

Comprehensive inspection at ArcelorMittal Temirtau needed following an increasing number of accidents – Kazakh president

ASTANA. Nov 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that a comprehensive inspection needs to be carried out at ArcelorMittal Temirtau where fatal accidents have become more frequent.

"Despite the repeated warnings and instructions from the government agencies, the situation has not improved. Now we have to take tough and urgent measures, which I spoke about recently in Karaganda. A comprehensive inspection needs to be conducted at the enterprise, including for compliance with the labor safety requirements and all environmental standards," Tokayev is quoted as saying at a meeting with the public of the Mangistau region on Monday.

Accidents at ArceloMittal Temirtau have become more frequent and, it could be said, regular, according to the president.

"This was the second fatal tragedy this year. Over 20 accidents have occurred at the metallurgical plant since 2006, claiming the lives of more than 100 of our citizens," he said.

"We need to find out if the owner’s capital expenses are enough to keep the equipment in a good condition and to implement modernization projects as necessary. We may have to hire an international company to assess the current situation at the plant. We must do everything possible to make sure that such tragedies will never happen again. The life and health of our citizens is our main priority," Tokayev said.

In the early hours of Thursday, an outburst of gas led to the death of five workers and injured four in the Lenin Mine of ArcelorMittal Temirtau JSC in the town of Shakhtinsk in Karaganda region during the drilling of gas-draining boreholes.

ArcelorMittal Temirtau is part of the international steel company Arcelor-Mittal, which operates 15 coal and iron ore mines in Kazakhstan.