VNIITsvetmet at the Ore Beneficiation Forum: From Scientific Research to Industrial Implementation

Specialists from the VNIITsvetmet branch of the RSE "NC CPMRM RK" participated in the Mineral Processing Forum, organized by the KAZ Minerals group at Nazarbayev University in Astana. The forum became a key industry platform, bringing together representatives from science, industry, the engineering community, and international experts to discuss current challenges and development prospects for Kazakhstan's mining and metallurgical complex.

At the forum, Larisa Borisovna Kushakova, Deputy Director for Applied Research and Testing at the VNIITsvetmet branch of the RSE "NC CPMRM RK", presented a report entitled "The Evolution of Flotation Beneficiation Methods in Kazakhstan." Her presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the development of the domestic beneficiation system—from the first beneficiation plants and classic flotation circuits to modern high-tech solutions based on automation, digitalization, and the introduction of new ore pre-beneficiation methods.

Reviewing the industry's nearly century-long development, Larisa Borisovna Kushakova highlighted VNIITsvetmet's contribution to the formation and development of the scientific and applied foundation for mineral beneficiation in Kazakhstan. For decades, the institute has served as a bridge between fundamental research, laboratory and pilot-scale testing, the development of process regulations, and their subsequent implementation at existing beneficiation plants in Kazakhstan, including those in the East Kazakhstan region, KAZ Minerals, Kazzinc LLC, and other mining and metallurgical enterprises processing copper, lead-zinc, polymetallic, and gold-copper ores.

The report emphasized that VNIITsvetmet's experience has not only scientific but also practical significance. The institute's specialists developed technological solutions for flotation enrichment, selection of bulk concentrates, improvement of reagent regimes, increased recovery of valuable components, and adaptation of processing schemes to the characteristics of mineral raw materials. These solutions have been repeatedly tested in industrial conditions and have been applied at mineral processing plants in Kazakhstan.

It was also noted that VNIITsvetmet's integrated approach – from studying the ore composition and conducting process tests to developing recommendations for industrial implementation – allows for scientifically based improvements in mineral processing processes. This approach contributes to increased metal recovery efficiency, rational use of mineral resources, and strengthening the industry's technological independence.

The report covered the history of Kazakhstan's largest mineral processing plants, the modernization of process flowsheets, the introduction of modern flotation equipment, the development of molybdenum flotation, and the use of innovative separation methods. Special attention was paid to modern trends in mineral processing, improving metal recovery efficiency, and the technological solutions that are shaping the future of the country's mining and metallurgy industry.

The participation of VNIITsvetmet specialists in such events not only provides an exchange of scientific and practical experience but also an opportunity to showcase the contribution of domestic science to the development of Kazakhstan's mineral resources sector, strengthen professional ties between industry and the scientific community, and discuss promising areas for further technological development in the industry.

Source: www.gov.kz/memleket