Qarmet Launches $700M Steel Project in Qaraganda

Qarmet plans to build a new casting and rolling complex at its Qaraganda plant, aiming to modernize production and boost Kazakhstan’s position in the global metallurgy market, Orda.kz reports.

The company is finalizing its choice of technology partner, with proposals from Austria’s Primetals Technologies, Germany’s SMS group, and Italy’s Danieli under review.

The facility will produce hot-rolled steel up to 1850 mm wide and 0.8–16 mm thick, expanding the product range and opening access to high-tech sectors like automotive, nuclear, and medical industries.

The current equipment dates back to 1968. The new complex, due by 2027, will add 4 million tonnes of premium steel capacity annually. It’s expected to reduce energy costs, replace cold-rolled products in some segments, and improve overall efficiency and quality.

Estimated at $700 million, the project will be co-financed by European export credit agencies and Kazakh development institutions.

According to Qarmet chairman Petr Trushin, this is more than an upgrade:

We are creating next-generation high-tech production that can compete globally... This is a strategic leap forward.

The facility’s location near raw materials and key transport routes is designed to cut logistics costs and boost exports to Central Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

The complex is part of Qarmet’s broader modernization plan, which includes:

• A $301M gas pipeline to cut costs and emissions
  
• New coke batteries ($369M, 1.5M tonnes capacity)
  
• A $511M mining complex in Qarajal
  
• Expansion into coal-chemical products with 15+ product types 

Original Author: Maria Kravstova