The recent tragedy at Kazakhmys’ Zhomart mine in the Zhanaarka district of Kazakhstan’s Ulytau Region, which claimed the lives of seven workers, has led to a wave of criticism of the company’s owners in the media, in Kazakhstan’s Parliament, and civil society.
People are furious that Kazakhmys, Kazakhstan’s most profitable corporation, mining copper, gold and silver, saves on labour safety and environmental protection.
At the same time Kazakhmys purchased an Airbus ACJ TwoTwenty business jet for $80m with a range of more than 10,000 kilometres.
According to the company’s statement, “the acquisition of the aircraft is related to the company’s production needs.” Vladimir Kim and Eduard Ogay, owners of Kazakhmys, are among the richest entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan. But over the past 15 years, Kazakhmys has become a cemetery: 64 people have lost their lives in blatant industrial accidents over that period, according to KazTAG news agency.
Yerlan Sayrov, a member of the Kazakh parliament Majilis, is indemnified by what happened: couldn’t Kazakhmys have ensured the safety of production instead of buying an expensive aircraft? “Oligarchs must bear inexorable responsibility for the life and health of our people”, – said the deputy.
The need for a change in management
To overcome this situation, Akezhan Kazhegeldin, former prime minister of Kazakhstan and a prominent public figure, believes that the Government of Kazakhstan and President Tokayev should take control of Kazakhmys and conduct a thorough audit of the company. Not only should the company’s investment commitments and compliance with labour and environmental laws be checked, but also the correctness of tax payments and transparency of financial flows.
The state, as the largest shareholder and owner of subsoil resources, should replace the top management of Kazakhmys with Kazakhstani specialists with Western education and experience, without changing the shareholding of Vladimir Kim and Eduard Ogay in the company.
More about Vladimir Kim
In British media Vladimir Kim’s name is mentioned in connection with the fact that he owns at least two flats in the most expensive house in London One Hyde Park.
One of the apartments is the home of Nazarbayev’s second wife, Asel Icabayeva (1980), whom he married without a device to his first wife, Sara (1941), according to non-governmental organizations investigating corruption links in the family of former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev (1940).
His sons Tauman (2005) and Bayken (2008) live with their mother and attend a British school.
Nursultan Nazarbayev himself was also seen living in one of Vladimir Kim’s apartments after he stepped down as president.
