Kazakhstan: Over 25 killed as fire engulfs ArcelorMittal mine

The local division of the Luxembourg-based steelmaker that runs the mine, ArcelorMittal Temirtau reported on Saturday that at least 25 workers had perished in a mine fire in Kazakhstan. According to a statement from the firm, out of the 252 individuals at the Kostenko mine, 206 had been evacuated following what seemed to be a methane explosion, and 18 were in need of medical attention. By 2:00 pm (0800 GMT), about twenty-one persons were still missing. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the president of Kazakhstan, issued an order to his cabinet to halt investment collaboration with ArcelorMittal Temirtau on October 29, along with condolences to the relatives of the victims and the declaration of a national day of sorrow. In a statement, the government announced that it was completing an agreement to nationalise the business, which runs the largest steel mill in the nation. “ArcelorMittal can also confirm, as communicated earlier today by the government of Kazakhstan, that the two parties have been in discussions concerning the future of ArcelorMittal Temirtau and recently signed a preliminary agreement for a transaction that will transfer ownership to the Republic of Kazakhstan,” it said. “ArcelorMittal is committed to completing this transaction as soon as possible in order to minimise disruption to the greatest extent possible.” Roman Sklyar, Kazakhstan’s first deputy prime minister, informed reporters last month that the country was in talks with possible buyers of the mill. The speaker expressed the dissatisfaction of the cabinet with ArcelorMittal’s inability to fulfil its commitments to invest, modernise machinery, and guarantee worker safety following a string of fatal incidents. (With agency inputs)