Enhancing eco-economic efficiency of mineral deposit exploration to achieve sustainable development in the mining industry of Kazakhstan

Abstract

The article aims to study key aspects of sustainable eco-economic improvement of mining companies in Kazakhstan. The study involves ten of the most important companies of Kazakhstan that are engaged in ore extraction and metallurgy. In addition, a plan-do-check-act (PDCA) model to improve functioning of a decoupling-based analysis system was introduced. Despite high positions in a decoupling ranking, companies such as ArcelorMittal Temirtau, Vostochnoye Rudoupravleniye, Zhairem Mining & Processing Plant, and Kazphosphate LLP had plenty of room over the years to grow and reach eco-economic efficiency. The PDCA model enables companies to analyse their eco-economic management system in terms of efficiency, adequacy and feasibility at certain pre-set intervals. ArcelorMittal Temirtau and Kazphosphate tend to reduce their environmental footprints by using their current technical capacities. To improve resource consumption and sustainability of national/regional economy in the future, state and local governments of Kazakhstan should develop a system of instruments to regulate eco-economic activity of mining companies.