Information was circulating online that the management of Kazakhmys Corporation LLP was negotiating with Russian companies regarding the sale of eight strategic mineral deposits.
The publication Ulysmedia.kz, citing its sources, reported that the corporation's owners, Vladimir Kim and Eduard Ogay, were allegedly planning to sell the following deposits:
- Sokyrkoi, Karaganda Region;
- Ozernoye, Karaganda Region;
- East Atabai, Karaganda Region;
- Belousovskoye, East Kazakhstan Region;
- Anisimov Klyuch, East Kazakhstan Region;
- Severo-Nikolayevskoye, East Kazakhstan Region;
- Dyusembai Tsentralny, Ulytau Region;
- Alexandrovskoye, Pavlodar Region.
The journalists noted that further extraction at some deposits requires investment in exploration of the reserves.
"So it can be assumed that by offloading such assets, the Kazakh oligarchs are beginning to wind down their business and will eventually sell off Kazakhmys piece by piece. And, by all accounts, the state does not intend to take mineral extraction into its own hands," the message stated.
Meanwhile, the press service of Kazakhmys Corporation LLP denied the information about the sale of the deposits.
"This information does not correspond to reality. The Kazakhmys Corporation is not conducting negotiations regarding the sale of any deposits to foreign or any other investors," the corporation reported.