Not less than 32 lifeless at ArcelorMittal mine in Kazakhstan

Not less than 32 miners died and 14 are nonetheless being sought on Saturday October 28 after an accident in a mine operated by ArcelorMittal in central Kazakhstan. This is without doubt one of the worst accidents within the historical past of this Central Asian nation, in line with a brand new report from the authorities.

“At 4 p.m. native time (10 a.m. GMT) the our bodies of 32 folks had been discovered within the Kostenko mine, the seek for 14 miners continues”introduced the Ministry of Emergency Conditions in a press launch.

Earlier, the regional administration reported a hearth final night time on this mine positioned not removed from the town of Karaganda. 252 minors had been current on the time of the tragedy.

In direction of nationalization

The Kazakh subsidiary of ArcelorMittal, one of many world leaders in metal and mining, is commonly accused by the authorities of not respecting security and environmental requirements.

After the accident, Kazakhstan introduced that it had reached a preliminary settlement with ArcelorMittal to regain management of this native subsidiary. “The federal government has reached a preliminary settlement with the shareholders of ArcelorMittal Temirtau and is finalizing the transaction to switch the possession of the corporate in favor of the Republic of Kazakhstan”introduced the Prime Minister in a press launch.

Instantly after the announcement of the tragedy, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered “finish the cooperation” with the group. The Kazakh chief went to the scene of the tragedy at noon, in line with the presidential administration.

“Systemic” accidents

That is the worst mining accident in Kazakhstan since 2006, when 41 miners misplaced their lives on an ArcelorMittal web site, and the second deadly accident in two months on a gaggle web site, after the dying of 5 miners in mid-August. in the identical area.

ArcelorMittal operates round fifteen factories and mines on this extraordinarily polluted industrial zone of this immense former Soviet republic wealthy in pure assets. The Kazakh authorities has in latest months denounced the “systemic nature” accidents involving the group, which value the lives of “greater than 100 folks since 2006”.

Kazakhstan, the most important financial system in Central Asia, is stuffed with oil and gasoline, but additionally uranium, manganese, iron, chrome and coal.