In 1995, JSC TNC Kazchrome consolidated a number of enterprises, each with its own long-standing history. Since then, the Company has consistently developed and integrated their mining, beneficiation and metallurgical capacities, thereby establishing a world-class integrated production complex. Today, Kazchrome is one of the leading ferrochrome producers and one of the largest employers in Kazakhstan.
The history of Kazchrome’s enterprises began long before the Company itself was established. Its starting point dates back to 1938.
1938
Donskoy Mining and Processing Plant was founded in the Aktobe region. Chrome ore extraction and beneficiation enterprise was established on the basis of the South Kempirsay chromite deposit.
1940
The construction of the Chrom-Tau miners’ village has begun. In the same year, a decision was made on the construction of a ferroalloys plant in the city of Aktyubinsk on the basis of Kempirsay chromite.
1943
The launch of the Aktyubinsk ferroalloys plant marked the first smelting of Kazakhstan ferrochrome in the smelting shop No. 1. The first metal was produced by “Komsomolka” furnace on January 18, 1943.
1959
For the first time, one million tons of ore was mined at the Donskoy Ore Mining and Processing Plant per calendar year. Mining work has begun on the Komsomolsky and Vostochny open-pit mines.
1968
Ermakovsky Ferroalloys Plant was formed. Now it is named Aksu Ferroalloys Plant and is the leading metallurgical plant in the world in the production of chromium, silicon and manganese alloys.
1973
The first concentrator was commissioned at the Donskoy Mining and Processing Plant. Production of concentrate since 1974. In the same year, work began on the construction of the Molodezhnaya mine.
1974
The first millionth ton of ferroalloys has been produced at Aksu Ferroalloys Plant. In the same year, the construction of the smelting shop No. 4 was completed. New shop included eight furnaces.
1978
Aktobe Ferroalloys Plant started to produce Ferrochrome brand FeCr 650 with the State quality mark. In the same year, construction of the “Tsentralnaya” mine began at Donskoy GOK.
1982
26 furnaces were introduced at the Aksu plant in the period from 1970 to 1982. Constant work on their modernization has allowed the company to achieve the production level of more than a million tons of ferroalloys per year nowadays.
1986
FS-45 ferrosilicium of the Aksu Ferroalloys Plant is recognized as the best in the world. A special certificate of this fact is issued by the Luxembourg’s International Chamber of Commerce.
1995
TNC Kazchrome JSC was established, uniting large enterprises of the mining and metallurgical industry — the Aksu and Aktyubinsk Ferroalloys Plants, the Donskoy GOK, and in 2004, RU Kazmarganets was included in its structure.
1997
Development of the Tur manganese deposit has begun. The mine uses the most modern high-performance mining and transportation equipment for open-pit mining.
2001
The Tsentralnaya mine of Donskoy GOK went to full production capacity of two million tons. During the enterprise visit by the First President of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbayev, the mine was given a new name — «10th Anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence».
2005
Low-grade ore beneficiation production site with a capacity of 600 thousand tons per year, pellet production site with a capacity of 700 thousand tons per year, and ore beneficiation equipment were commissioned at Donskoy GOK.
2008
Shipment of ferroalloys by sea containers began at Aksu Ferroalloy Plant. Similar section was introduced a year earlier at Aktobe Ferroalloys Plant.
2009
The construction of the Aktobe Ferroalloys Plant’s shop No. 4, which is equal in capacity to a separate enterprise, has begun. The symbolic capsule was laid by the Head of State, N.Nazarbayev.
2011
Aksu Ferroalloys Plant has put into operation the shrinkage complex. In the same year, a unique in the CIS sintering shop was put into operation. The aim of the project is to process industrial waste and produce sinter.
2014
The new smelting shop No. 4 of the Aktobe Ferroalloys Plant, the world leader in capacity and new production technologies, was launched.
2017
Aksu Ferroalloys Plant has launched a large-scale investment project, Renovation of Smelting Shop No. 6. In the same year, the development of the Pervomayskoye deposit at the mine «10th Anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence» of the Donskoy GOK started. Aktobe Ferroalloys Plant has commissioned an «experimental briquetting» section, which consists of briquetted ferrodust returned to production and used to produce ferroalloys.
2018
The collective agreement of TNC Kazchrome JSC was recognized as the best according to the results of the republican competition for social responsibility of business “Paryz”.
2019
Furnace No. 64 of the Aksu Ferroalloy Plant, was launched after renovation and produced the first metal. At Aksu and Aktobe ferroalloy plants the company launched work on the implementation of a new production system called “ERG Way”.
2021
In 2021, Kazakhstan marked a significant milestone with the launch of its first industrial tour at the Aktobe Ferroalloy Plant.
2022
In 2022, the Aktobe Ferroalloy Plant embarked on an ambitious project to modernize the gas cleaning systems in two of its smelting shops, namely, No. 1 and No. 2.
During the same year, Kazchrome achieved recognition for its commitment to sustainability and responsibility. The company was honored with the prestigious Platinum Award by Ecovadis and was also acknowledged by the International Chromium Development Association (ICDA). This recognition placed Kazchrome among the top 1% of ferrous metallurgy enterprises that adhere to rigorous standards of responsibility and sustainable development. Furthermore, Kazchrome received the 'Best Socially Responsible Enterprise' award in the national contest of socially responsible business 'Paryz.
During the same year, Kazchrome achieved recognition for its commitment to sustainability and responsibility. The company was honored with the prestigious Platinum Award by Ecovadis and was also acknowledged by the International Chromium Development Association (ICDA). This recognition placed Kazchrome among the top 1% of ferrous metallurgy enterprises that adhere to rigorous standards of responsibility and sustainable development. Furthermore, Kazchrome received the 'Best Socially Responsible Enterprise' award in the national contest of socially responsible business 'Paryz.
2023
In 2023, a significant development took place with the inauguration of a state-of-the-art ERG GREEN processing plant. This plant was established to process slurry from Donskoy GOK. With a remarkable capacity of approximately 1.7 million tons, this complex can fully handle both newly generated waste from ongoing operations and previously accumulated slurry.
Continuing its commitment to excellence, Kazchrome once again secured the highest rating in the Ecovadis rating system. This reaffirms its status as a responsible chrome producer, as recognized by the International Chromium Development Association (ICDA).
Continuing its commitment to excellence, Kazchrome once again secured the highest rating in the Ecovadis rating system. This reaffirms its status as a responsible chrome producer, as recognized by the International Chromium Development Association (ICDA).
2024
The Aktobe Ferroalloy Plant's Smelting Workshop No. 4, which employs a cutting-edge smelting technology that is both unique to Kazakhstan and innovative on a global scale, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and surpassed its design capacity. Originally designed for 72 MW, the shop now consistently operates at 75 MW and is already testing the transition to 80 MW. The plant's production of ferroalloys has more than doubled, increasing from 300,000 to 700,000 tons per year.
Meanwhile, Donskoy GOK has launched the new Bolashak mine, which has an annual capacity of up to 7.5 million tons of chrome ore. The mine encompasses the extraction of two deposits—Millionnoye and Almaz-Zhemchuzhina—and is currently one of the deepest mines in the world for ferrous metals. Mining activities will take place across five underground levels, ranging from 800 to 1,200 meters in depth.
In 2024, Kazchrome set new industry records across its key areas of operation. By the end of the year, chrome ore production exceeded 6 million tons, representing a 16% increase compared with 2023. Ferroalloy production reached an all-time high of 1.864 million tons, exceeding the previous year’s result by 14%.
Meanwhile, Donskoy GOK has launched the new Bolashak mine, which has an annual capacity of up to 7.5 million tons of chrome ore. The mine encompasses the extraction of two deposits—Millionnoye and Almaz-Zhemchuzhina—and is currently one of the deepest mines in the world for ferrous metals. Mining activities will take place across five underground levels, ranging from 800 to 1,200 meters in depth.
In 2024, Kazchrome set new industry records across its key areas of operation. By the end of the year, chrome ore production exceeded 6 million tons, representing a 16% increase compared with 2023. Ferroalloy production reached an all-time high of 1.864 million tons, exceeding the previous year’s result by 14%.
2025
A large-scale project to introduce a positioning system is being actively implemented at the Donskoy Mining and Processing Plant. This advanced solution will make it possible to determine the real-time location of personnel and equipment in underground workings, thereby enhancing the safety of mining operations.
At the Aksu Ferroalloys Plant, a new gas-cleaning complex for smelting furnace No. 42 was commissioned. The new unit is more efficient than its predecessor and captures 99.5% of emissions.
Kazchrome set a world record by producing more than 150 tons of ferrochrome in a single process cycle from one DC electric arc furnace at the Aktobe Ferroalloys Plant. The record was officially registered by the World Book of Records, WBR, and confirmed under the supervision of independent experts.
A flotation section was launched at the Donskoy Mining and Processing Plant. The world’s first technology for direct chrome flotation from sludge waste, developed and patented by ERG’s Research and Engineering Centre, now makes it possible to recover chrome from ultrafine particles previously considered unsuitable for beneficiation. This represents the second stage of the ERG Green program.
Construction of a waste-heat recovery power plant commenced at the Aktobe Ferroalloys Plant. It will become the first power plant in the CIS to use ferroalloy gas for electricity generation.
At the Aksu Ferroalloys Plant, a new gas-cleaning complex for smelting furnace No. 42 was commissioned. The new unit is more efficient than its predecessor and captures 99.5% of emissions.
Kazchrome set a world record by producing more than 150 tons of ferrochrome in a single process cycle from one DC electric arc furnace at the Aktobe Ferroalloys Plant. The record was officially registered by the World Book of Records, WBR, and confirmed under the supervision of independent experts.
A flotation section was launched at the Donskoy Mining and Processing Plant. The world’s first technology for direct chrome flotation from sludge waste, developed and patented by ERG’s Research and Engineering Centre, now makes it possible to recover chrome from ultrafine particles previously considered unsuitable for beneficiation. This represents the second stage of the ERG Green program.
Construction of a waste-heat recovery power plant commenced at the Aktobe Ferroalloys Plant. It will become the first power plant in the CIS to use ferroalloy gas for electricity generation.
2026
Kazchrome obtained an Environmental Product Declaration, EPD, for high-carbon ferrochrome. This certification confirms the product’s compliance with international environmental requirements and ensures transparency regarding its environmental impact. The relevant document has been published on the international EPD International platform.
At the Bolashak Mine of the Donskoy Mining and Processing Plant, the transition to Sublevel Caving, SLC, technology has begun. This is one of the most advanced underground ore mining methods used in deep mines worldwide. The project is being implemented at the Almaz-Zhemchuzhina deposit. The key advantage of the new system lies in the high degree of mechanisation and automation of processes. To support this transition, modern equipment has been purchased and partially commissioned; it assumes the main workload in development and mining operations, significantly reducing the physical burden on personnel.
Following the EcoVadis assessment in 2026, Kazchrome was awarded a Silver Medal. The Company scored 75 out of 100 points and ranked among the top 15% of companies with the highest assessment results.
At the Bolashak Mine of the Donskoy Mining and Processing Plant, the transition to Sublevel Caving, SLC, technology has begun. This is one of the most advanced underground ore mining methods used in deep mines worldwide. The project is being implemented at the Almaz-Zhemchuzhina deposit. The key advantage of the new system lies in the high degree of mechanisation and automation of processes. To support this transition, modern equipment has been purchased and partially commissioned; it assumes the main workload in development and mining operations, significantly reducing the physical burden on personnel.
Following the EcoVadis assessment in 2026, Kazchrome was awarded a Silver Medal. The Company scored 75 out of 100 points and ranked among the top 15% of companies with the highest assessment results.
Nowadays
TNC Kazchrome JSC stays focused on its units’ modernization projects and increasing volumes of ore mining and ferroalloys production. The company also pays great attention to environmental and social activities.