The General Director of Kazzinc LLP, Zhanat Zhanbotin, has spoken publicly for the first time about the accident at the zinc plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk where three workers died. According to him, the company is continuing its internal investigation into the circumstances of the incident and has strengthened safety controls at the production site.
WHAT THE COMPANY HEAD REPORTED
According to Zhanat Zhanbotin, the explosion occurred at the zinc plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk during the start-up of an induced draught fan. The explosion led to a fire and partial collapse of the building.
Three employees of the enterprise died as a result of the incident. The company head described the event as one of the most tragic in the enterprise's history and stressed the need for a detailed determination of the accident's causes in order to develop measures to prevent similar incidents.
WHAT MEASURES WERE TAKEN AFTER THE INCIDENT
Following the emergency incident at the enterprise, a special control regime was introduced. A working group was also established, comprising company leaders, industrial safety specialists, and trade union representatives.
According to Zhanat Zhanbotin, around 11,000 workplace checks have been carried out to date. Identified violations and deviations are being monitored by the enterprise.
HOW THE PRIME MINISTER RESPONDED
Zhanat Zhanbotin also stated that since 2023, no fatal incidents had been recorded at the enterprise. According to him, the company allocates more than 27 billion tenge annually to occupational safety.
Following the statement, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov criticised the assessment of the level of industrial safety at the enterprise. He noted that the tragedy which occurred in May calls such statements into question.
"You report well. However, the situation that developed in May negates your words, so additional active measures must be taken," said the Prime Minister.
According to Olzhas Bektenov, the company needs to strengthen its work in the areas of occupational safety and industrial hygiene to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE ACCIDENT
On 5 May 2026, an explosion occurred at the Kazzinc LLP plant. As a result, seven people were injured, two of whom died, and five others were hospitalised.
A criminal case has been registered under Part 4 of Article 156 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Violation of occupational safety rules resulting in the death of two or more persons"). The penalty under this article provides for imprisonment of up to seven years.