As it celebrates 30 years of successful partnerships across Central Asia, Metso continues to innovate towards a greener future for the mining and minerals sectors. Mikhail Balychev, Vice President of Sales and Services – CEA Region, tells us more.
A NEW FRONTIER
“In recent years, countries in the Central Asia (CEA) region – namely Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia – have increasingly begun to capitalise on their rich reserves of copper and other critical raw materials. We’re seeing a growing wave of international interest in the region’s mining potential,” begins Mikhail Balychev, Vice President of Sales and Services – CEA Region at Metso.
As such, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors have become an increasing priority for such companies due to the competitive advantages afforded by safer, greener, and more efficient mining techniques.
The rising prevalence of automation and digitalisation, meanwhile, has resulted in an uptick in autonomous mining and data collection techniques, whilst artificial intelligence (AI) is being increasingly utilised in analytics to identify gaps and patterns and advance operations – all of which has led to a burgeoning mining scene.
However, a shortage of skilled labour persists, particularly in more remote areas, alongside concern surrounding workers’ safety and well-being.
A sustainable technology and service partner to the mining, aggregates, and metals refining industries, Metso has emerged as a significant player.
On a mission to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C) with science-based targets, the company is ideally positioned for continued success as it strives to innovate towards a greener future for the mining and minerals sectors.
A STRONG REGIONAL PRESENCE
Proudly part of several recent and ongoing flagship mining projects across CEA, Metso has been able to demonstrate its strong presence and long-term commitment to the region.
In Kazakhstan, the company’s aftermarket business supports almost every benefaction plant in the country, supplying critical spare parts and performance upgrades to major players such as KAZ Minerals, Kazakhmys, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), JSC AK Altynalmas, and RG Gold.
In terms of its greenfield operations, Metso has delivered complete crushing and hydrometallurgy lines for Caravan Resources, Ashyk-Tas, and Almaly Mining, along with a concentrator plant at the Shatyrkul-Zhaysan cluster for Kazakhmys.
In addition to these active projects, it is collaborating with both government and private stakeholders on several large open-pit deposits currently moving through the geotechnical assessment and permitting stages.
“These are five to 10-year development prospects, and our early involvement helps to ensure optimal flowsheet design and future performance,” Balychev emphasises.
In Uzbekistan, Metso is supporting Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex (AMMC) with a series of large-scale technology deliveries that are central to the country’s mining and metallurgical growth.
These include a comprehensive equipment package for the Copper Concentrator Plant-3 (CCP-3), one of the largest in CEA, a frame agreement for the delivery of a major new copper smelter, and two advanced sulphuric acid plants designed to meet both production and environmental requirements.
Elsewhere, in Mongolia, Metso is working with Erdenet Mining Corporation – one of the country’s leading producers of copper and molybdenum.
“Here, we are also supporting the Oyu Tolgoi project, one of the world’s largest known copper and gold deposits, by delivering high-performance solutions for mineral processing,” Balychev says.
Whilst each of these projects is important in its own right, together they demonstrate how Metso’s technologies and expertise are helping shape the future of sustainable mineral processing across CEA.
A PROLIFIC PROJECT
The AMMC CCP-3 is one of the largest and perhaps most important mining projects currently underway in CEA – and Metso is proud to play a central role in its development.
“Our scope of delivery for this project is extensive, including basic engineering, manufacturing, and supply of a wide range of advanced technologies,” Balychev tells us.
The company’s contributions range from HIGmill® regrinding mills, TankCell® and Concorde Cell™ flotation technologies, and high-rate thickeners to FrothSense+™ cameras, Larox® pressure filters, slurry pumps, and MHC™ Series hydrocyclones.
Metso is also supplying samplers, Courier® 6X SL elemental online analysers, PSI 500i particle size analysers, and a state-of-the-art process control system, along with installation and commissioning advisory services and critical spare parts.
Given the scale and complexity of this project – particularly the simultaneous installation of such a large volume of equipment – tight coordination and quality execution has been essential.
“Our professional team has been present on-site from day one of installation, supervising assembly and ensuring full technical compliance,” he explains.
A large team of Metso engineers and supervisors are currently working on-site, with additional automation experts and metallurgists set to join them to support commissioning.
INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING LANDMARKS
Notably, Metso’s portfolio includes the Select™ range of horizontal grinding mills – a strategic addition designed to help customers balance performance, sustainability, and cost-efficiency.
The pre-engineered mills combine proven technology with optimised standardisation, significantly reducing delivery times and installation complexity, whilst their modular design minimises environmental impact during installation and maintenance.
With the first two mills in the Select™ series having already been installed and launched at the Shatyrkul-Zhaysan copper plant in Kazakhstan, which have been in operation for a year, Metso has already witnessed the market’s support for this product.
A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT
2025 marked 30 years of Metso’s presence in CEA – a major milestone reflecting the decades of trust, collaboration, and shared success the company has built with its customers and partners in the region.
In preparation for the anniversary, Metso explored its archives and discovered that its first delivery to the region — flotation machines for a processing plant in Kazakhstan — dates back to 1982.
However, the company officially marks the beginning of its presence in CEA from 1995, when its first representative office was established in Uzbekistan.
“This historical connection made the anniversary even more meaningful to us,” Balychev smiles.
Over the past three decades, the company’s presence has grown from a single local representative to a regional team of more than 200, including 35 field service engineers.
Now operating from offices across Almaty and Karaganda in Kazakhstan, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, and Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, Metso’s expansion is tangible.
It also maintains three strategically located warehouses across the region to support its customers with faster deliveries and stronger aftermarket service.
As such, Metso has been able to supply over 1,500 units of equipment to its customers since it was established in CEA.
“Our anniversary was more than a celebration – it was an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and reaffirm our commitment to supporting the sustainable growth of mining and metals operations across the region,” he enthuses.
Another interesting fact is that the two largest Lokotrack® mobile crushers in the world, currently in operation in CEA, also belong to Metso.
The Lokotrack® LT160 – one of the biggest track-mounted primary crushers globally – has been in operation for Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combinat (NMMC) in Uzbekistan since 1995.
Metso’s LT200, meanwhile, is also running at Altay Polimetally’s open-pit operation in Kazakhstan.
“These machines are not only engineering landmarks but also symbols of the long-term trust placed in Metso’s technologies,” Balychev prides.
A TRUSTED PARTNER
Looking ahead, Metso’s key priorities for the coming year include expanding its service network, deepening partnerships with customers, and accelerating local manufacturing capabilities.
Meanwhile, it is actively bringing in more field service engineers, signing new site performance contracts, and increasing the availability of critical components.
Initially, this will take place primarily in the company’s warehouse in Karaganda to enhance responsiveness and minimise downtime for customers.
At the same time, Metso is supporting the next wave of greenfield developments across the region – particularly as ore grades decline and deposits become more geologically complex.
“Our goal is to be involved early in the process, helping customers design optimised flowsheets and select the right technologies from the start,” Balychev surmises.
Another strategic focus for the company remains on localisation as it works closely with its Kazakh partners to localise more of its production and assembly activities.
“This will enable us to better support the domestic market whilst reaffirming our long-term commitment to the region’s mining industry – not only as a supplier, but as a trusted partner driving positive change across CEA.”
“Innovation is at the heart of our Metso Plus approach, enabling us to support the decarbonisation of the entire minerals processing value chain”
Mikhail Balychev, Vice President of Sales and Services – CEA Region, Metso
THE ROAD TO NET ZERO
To minimise its environmental footprint, Metso has clear, measurable goals in place to reduce the impact of its operations, logistics, and procurement processes.
First, it seeks to accomplish net zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2030.
“As of 2024, we’ve already reached a 72 percent reduction compared to our baseline,” Balychev points out.
Metso also seeks to achieve a similar target across its logistics operations, aiming to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20 percent this year. As of 2024, the company was already on track to exceed this target with a 13 percent reduction.
The company additionally works closely with its direct suppliers to encourage science-based climate action.
As such, in 2024, more than 31 percent of the company’s direct procurement spend was with suppliers who mirror its own targets.
Further to operational emissions reductions, Metso’s commitment to the environment is reflected in its R&D investments, namely through the Metso Plus offering.
“Metso Plus is a dedicated portfolio of advanced, sustainable solutions that help customers reduce their energy and water consumption, improve efficiency, and lower emissions,” he details.
“Innovation is at the heart of our Metso Plus approach, enabling us to support the decarbonisation of the entire minerals processing value chain,” Balychev passionately concludes.
