COVID- 19: KATCO confirms the continuity of production but reduces non-essential activities on site

The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading in Kazakhstan and worldwide impacting all industries, both national and global. KATCO is fully committed to protect the health and safety of its people and host communities as well as supports efforts of national authorities to contain the spread of the pandemic. The company has established a crisis center to monitor on a daily basis the situation and timely take all necessary measures.

Since March 18 and city lockdown the majority of the KATCO’s head office staff in Nur-Sultan have been transferred to remote work and office closed.

To limit the spread of the pandemic and restrict the movement of its personnel and contracting companies, KATCO management decided to reduce the number of employees present at its mines in Turkestan region and to stop some activities non-essential for production like drilling or project construction works for the next 3 months. The demobilization of activities at the mines will be conducted progressively to be completed by April 24th. The period of 3 months will be reviewed and adjusted considering the evolution of the sanitary crisis and in coordination with KATCO shareholders, Orano and Kazatomprom.

The extraction will continue on the wellfield and Tortkuduk and Muyunkum plants will continue to operate normally and produce finished product. The impact on the production output will remain limited. All short-term deliveries to its customers will be respected. 

Gerard Fries, General Director of KATCO: “I would like to thank all the staff of KATCO for their commitment. Our people are our most valuable asset. The mine has taken the drastic sanitary measures to protect its personnel working to ensure production and we pay particular attention to those unable to work due to the circumstances”.

The control by medical personnel at the mines was increased. All employees who arrived before the closure of the mines passed a thorough medical check. All employees are provided with masks, and hand sanitizers are installed in the washing rooms. Social distancing measures have been implemented on site, premises are disinfected on a regular basis.

All employees working over-time and involved in continuous production will be paid additional gratification respecting the Labor Code of Kazakhstan and Collective Agreement of KATCO. Workers not able to access their workplace under these circumstances will be paid salaries above the national minimum. 

“In those extremely difficult time, KATCO has the full support of its shareholders in its decision to put employees and communities’ health and safety before any other stake. We will continue to work and restore our full capacity of work as soon as the sanitary situation will be stabilized and restored”, - stated Gerard Fries.