Kazakhmys Found Fully Liable for Zhomart Mine Incident

The incident that killed seven miners at the Zhomart mine in Kazakhstan’s Ulytau region was caused by methane ignition, according to a government commission, Orda.kz reports.

The government commission has established that the cause of the accident at the Zhomart mine of Kazakhmys Corporation LLP in the Ulytau region was the ignition of methane. This is stated in Olzhas Bektenov's official response to the deputies' request.

According to the investigation, gas accumulation in dangerous concentrations occurred due to a tectonic fault in the mine workings.

The following factors also led to the accident:

• Use of non-explosion-proof electrical equipment
  
• Inefficient ventilation system
  
• Delayed gas composition monitoring
  
• Lack of adequate production oversight

The employer's degree of guilt has been established as 100%. The internal affairs agencies have opened a criminal case and an investigation is underway,the Prime Minister’s official response said. 

Meanwhile, Kazakhmys has initiated legal proceedings against a former employee who accused the company of illegally exporting rare earth metals. The lawsuit was revealed in a letter from company representatives to MP Azat Peruashev.

Following the February incident that claimed seven lives, Kazakhmys came under criticism.

It recently halted operations at nearly all of its facilities pending safety inspections.

Original Author: Alina Pak