Kazakhstan Plans to Establish a Ferroalloy-Gas Utilization Plant

Kazakhstan Plans to Establish a Ferroalloy-Gas Utilization Plant

ARTICLE REWRITE

Marker Studios - The Global metals and mining behemoth Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) has locked down an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) deal with China Tianchen Engineering Corporation to craft a swanky ferroalloy-gas utilization facility nestled in the heartland of Kazakhstan. ERG dropped the bombshell on April 30.

Let's have a tour of the bigwigs at ERG, shall we? ERG Group CEO Shukhrat Ibragimov and ERG Kazakhstan CEO Serik Shakhazhanov were recently spotted high-fiving each other, clinking glasses at the unveiling of the inaugural wind power plant in Khromtau, Kazakhstan. The map is already up on The Astana Times' website, waiting for you to take a squiz.

So, what's the big idea here? This 80-megawatt plant is about to be integrated into Smelting Shop Four at the Aktobe Ferroalloy Plant. The purpose? To transform a regular old by-product, a cheeky culprit that slips through typical waste management nets and ends up being flared away, into all-day power. The result? Over 600,000 cubic meters of gas redirected on an annual basis, with flaring becoming a fondly remembered relic, and emissions waving goodbye to Kazakhstan for the foreseeable future.

The project costs ERG a pretty penny ($92 million, to be exact), with a tentative completion date looming in 2026, and a host of new permanent job opportunities waiting in the wings as well.

Shukhrat Ibragimov, the mastermind behind ERG, had this to say about the project: "Once completed, this will be the first production facility of its kind in Kazakhstan, and one of the few in all of Eurasia."

Nice and green, right? This initiative gives ERG's darling subsidiary Kazchrome, one of the world's largest ferroalloy producers, a clear path to bolster Kazakhstan's aspirations for carbon neutrality. As Serik Shakhazhanov, the General Director of ERG Kazakhstan, put it, "This cleaner energy source, alongside renewable output from ERG's first wind farm in nearby Khromtau (ready to greet the grid this year!) is gonna make our chrome greener than ever!"

China Tianchen Engineering Corporation, which was born in 1953, brings to the table top-tier global experience from 30 countries, having been named among the world's top contractors and design firms by Engineering News-Record. The prestigious corporation will bring their engineering design chops, equipment expertise, and polished commissioning skills to the table for this baby.

The project doesn't mark the first wealth drop into Smelting Shop Four either. Since 2021, an impressive $28 million has been reinvested into the facility, giving it a facelift with automatic gas-cleaning systems, which have already decreased the environmental footprint by an impressive 30%. Once it's up and running, the new unit should help handle the lion's share of Smelting Shop Four's electricity demands, reducing reliance on the grid and leveling out energy expenditures.

References:

1. Eurasian Resources Group, April 30, 2023. FERROALLY-GAS UTILISATION FACILITY TO BOOST KAZAKHSTAN’S GREEN ENERGY SECTOR. Retreived on May 8, 2023.

Impact Points to Ponder:- Emission Reductions: The facility significantly cuts emissions of CO2 and other pollutants, aligning with Kazakhstan's carbon-neutral goals.- Energy Security: Provides self-generated power, bolstering operational resilience for ERG's subsidiary Kazchrome.- Job Opportunities: Creates new permanent employment opportunities during and after construction.- Sustainable Manufacturing: Positions ERG as a regional leader in clean technologies for metals production, with the facility marking a first for Kazakhstan and a rarity in Eurasia.

1. The ferroalloy-gas utilization facility in Kazakhstan, a collaboration between ERG and China Tianchen Engineering Corporation, is anticipated to be completed in 2026, costing ERG $92 million.
2. Upon completion, this facility will be the first of its kind in Kazakhstan and one of the few in all of Eurasia, a significant milestone for ERG and the region.
3. The 80-megawatt plant will convert flared gas waste into usable energy, redirecting over 600,000 cubic meters of gas annually, thereby reducing emissions and offering a cleaner energy source.
4. The project aligns with Kazakhstan's aspirations for carbon neutrality, as it Bolsters the efforts of ERG's subsidiary Kazchrome, one of the world's largest ferroalloy producers.
5. China Tianchen Engineering Corporation, with global experience from 30 countries, brings engineering design expertise, equipment knowledge, and commissioning skills to the project.
6. Since 2021, $28 million has been reinvested into Smelting Shop Four, with the new unit expected to handle the lion's share of its electricity demands, reducing reliance on the grid and lowering energy expenditures, as well as decreasing the environmental footprint by 30%.

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