JULY 20 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Lifting of international sanctions against Iran will give Kazakhstan’s steelmaking industry, and the ArcelorMittal plant at Temirtau in particular, a boost, Asset Isekeshev, Kazakh minister for industrial development, said.
ArcelorMittal Temirtau, near Karaganda, is one of the most important factories in Kazakhstan outside the oil and gas sector but it has struggled recently because of a drop in demand for steel from Iran.
“The lifting of sanctions against Iran could be a big plus for ArcelorMittal. This is a big market for us and this would allow us to stabilise operations,” Mr Isekeshev said at a press conference.
According to officials from ArcelorMittal Temirtau, Iran makes up around a third of its export market. Over the past few years, ArcelorMittal has tried to cut costs at the plant. It has laid-off thousands of workers and imposed salary cuts.
A new railway transport route from Kazakhstan, across Turkmenistan into Iran should also help ArcelorMittal exports.
ENDS
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(News report from Issue No. 241, published on July 23 2015)