A major shift is underway in Kazakhstan’s non-ferrous metals industry. Chinese investor Hongda Group is developing a large-scale mining and metallurgical complex that is expected to surpass Kazzinc’s zinc production by more than 60% and nearly triple its lead output. Construction is already underway at two mining sites simultaneously.
Hongda Group plans to build a fully integrated production chain. Ore will be supplied from the Talap and Burabay-Zhalgyzagash deposits, where initial mining operations have already begun. At the same time, construction is progressing on two processing plants with a combined annual ore processing capacity of 8 million tonnes. These facilities represent the project’s first development phase.
The centerpiece of the investment will be a fully integrated metallurgical plant, which will be built during the next phase. Infrastructure and utility networks are currently being prepared for the facility. Once operational, the complex is expected to produce 420,000 tonnes of zinc and 220,000 tonnes of lead annually. For comparison, Kazzinc produced 251,800 tonnes of zinc and 76,700 tonnes of lead in 2025. Based on those figures, Hongda’s planned zinc output would be approximately 66.8% higher, while its lead production would be nearly 2.9 times greater.
The fact that construction and installation work is progressing simultaneously across multiple sites highlights the company’s determination to accelerate the project schedule. With a total investment of US$1.3 billion, the development is set to establish Kazakhstan as home to the largest lead-zinc production hub in Central Asia.
Hongda Group’s arrival is poised to reshape Kazakhstan’s non-ferrous metals sector. After decades of dominance by Kazzinc, the industry is gaining a powerful new competitor backed by Chinese capital and aiming to capture a significant share of the country’s zinc and lead markets.
Source: @nerzhavey
