Kazakh PM orders for gold to be imported to keep domestic refineries running

ASTANA. July 14 (Interfax) - Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has ordered the government to ensure domestic gold refineries operate at full capacity, including through gold imports.

"The Industry and Construction Ministry has one month to devise mechanisms to act as additional stimuli for the metallurgical sector and to ensure, together with Tau-Ken Samruk, the full utilization of domestic enterprises, which includes importing gold for refining within the country," Bektenov said at a government meeting on Tuesday.

Industry and Construction Minister Yersaiyn Nagaspayev said domestic producers had increased supplies of copper, zinc and gold-bearing raw materials to metallurgical plants. Agreements have also been reached on raw materials imports from Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

"The planned targets will be met through boosting output at existing plants and commissioning new capacities," he said.

Bektenov has already instructed Kazakhstan's Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna and relevant ministries to find and attract imported gold-bearing and polymetallic raw materials to keep domestic metallurgy enterprises running.