BI-Industrial Participates in an International Cooperation Project for Soda Production

One of Central Asia’s largest chemical projects - the construction of a soda ash plant is currently underway in the Zhambyl Region of Kazakhstan. The BI-Industrial team is involved in the infrastructure component of the project in the EPC format.

The project investor is Qazaq Soda LLP (part of the Turkish COREX Group), while the general contractor is the Chinese company CAMCE.

The first phase of the project, scheduled for launch in September, will have a production capacity of 500,000 tons of soda ash per year. In the future, the enterprise plans to increase production to up to 3 million tons annually, which will fully meet Kazakhstan’s domestic demand and create export potential.

According to Yusuf Ceylan, Director of Operations at Qazaq Soda, the region was selected after a detailed analysis. The Zhambyl Region offers convenient logistics, favorable climate conditions, and access to key raw materials. Nearby are salt deposits, water sources, and limestone reserves, which make the production chain highly efficient.

Investment in the first phase of the project amounts to about $400 million, while total investments across all phases are expected to exceed $2 billion. Financing for the first stage has been secured by an international banking consortium including Bank of China, ATB Bank, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, and Halyk Bank.

Currently, Kazakhstan imports around 400,000 tons of soda ash annually. This product is widely used in the glass, metallurgical, and chemical industries, as well as in water treatment systems.

“After the plant is launched, we will fully supply the domestic market and will be able to export the product. This represents a strategic transition - from importer to exporter,” said a representative of the investor.

Integrated Engineering Work

The project is being implemented in the EPC format, which implies full responsibility of the contractor for design, procurement, construction, and commissioning. This format requires high-level engineering integration and systematic management of timelines, budgets, and risks.

Aydana Bulatova, Project Control Manager at BI-Industrial, notes:

“EPC is not just construction. It is systemic engineering, management of budgets, timelines, and risks. Participation in such a project demonstrates the high level of competence of the team.”

Within the project, BI-Industrial is responsible for the comprehensive implementation of several infrastructure facilities.

The company’s scope includes five key facilities:

a residential camp covering 8.7 hectares (residential buildings, a hotel, and a shopping center),
a solid waste storage facility (25 hectares),
an evaporation pond (800 hectares),
a limestone zone with a crushing and sorting complex,
and railway infrastructure.

The project is implemented through international cooperation, requiring synchronization of engineering standards and management approaches.

The production site is located away from populated areas, which additionally reduces potential environmental impact.

“We pay particular attention to minimizing environmental impact and complying with international standards,” Aydana Bulatova emphasizes.

Project Team

At the construction stage, more than 300 BI-Industrial employees and about 65 units of equipment are involved at the site. A significant part of the team consists of residents of nearby settlements.

After the plant is commissioned, more than 380 jobs are expected to be created, with up to 97% of positions filled by Kazakhstani specialists.

BI-Industrial is the industrial division of our holding. Among the projects already implemented are the KamaTyresKZ tire plant in Saran, a chrome sludge processing plant for ERG, relocation of power transmission lines for the BMEI and 3GI projects for Tengizchevroil, and other industrial facilities. Projects of such scale become possible thanks to the coordinated work of a large team.

We thank our colleagues from BI-Industrial for their professionalism, responsibility, and contribution to the development of the company’s industrial projects.

Thanks to your work, this project is confidently moving toward successful completion.