According to the release, what has started in the Saran industrial zone is a rock wool plant (in Russian, "каменная вата") operated by Karaganda Insulation LLP. Rock wool is made from volcanic-origin rock such as basalt and is used to insulate roofs, façades, floors and partitions, and also to make sandwich panels.
How big is the new rock wool plant in Karaganda Region?
According to the regional administration, the plant can produce up to 1.2 million cubic metres of insulation a year; investment is 67 billion tenge, described as the company's private funds. The company itself will create 186 jobs, with about 1,500 more in supporting service organisations. Note that 1.2 million cubic metres is design capacity, and the release does not disclose current utilisation.
What raw materials and equipment does the plant use?
According to the regional administration, the raw material is local minerals, including material from deposits near Balkhash. The production complex is equipped with modern European equipment; the release does not name the manufacturers. The company's deputy general director, Daniyar Mukhamedzhanov, said rock wool has very low thermal conductivity and that its main advantages are environmental friendliness and natural origin.
What does rock wool mean for Kazakhstan's construction sector?
The regional administration says the project responds to the "People's Construction" ("Народная стройка") programme put forward by the President in the State of the Nation Address, which covers infrastructure construction across regions and will drive demand for domestic building materials. With the plant in operation, builders can get more domestically made insulation, which helps reduce dependence on imports. Governor Ermaganbet Bulekpaev said the key is that the product has reliable quality and is competitive.
Frequently asked questions
### Where is this rock wool plant?
According to the regional administration, the plant is in the Saran industrial zone in Karaganda Region and is operated by Karaganda Insulation LLP.
Rules related to this news
### What are the investment amount and the number of jobs?
According to the regional administration, investment is 67 billion tenge, the company creates 186 jobs and about 1,500 more are in supporting service organisations.
### Does this project involve Chinese companies?
According to the release, the project is privately funded with European equipment; it mentions no Chinese companies or equipment, and this article draws no inference.
### Is the capacity actual output?
No. 1.2 million cubic metres is the designed annual volume of insulation; the release gives no actual output.
Further reading
- More industry and policy news: Kazakhstan investment and projects news section
- Related industrial project: Aluminium radiator plant starts up in Saryarka SEZ
- Building materials project: Sinoma Cement builds a cement plant in Aktobe Region
- Set up a project company in Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan company registration services
Sources
- Karaganda Region Akimat (gov.kz), 29 October: https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/karaganda/press/news/details/1320119?lang=ru
The cover image was generated by AI and is not a real photograph.