15 September 2017, Research and Development Center (hereinafter – RDC) Pre-Feasibility Study Procurement Contract was signed between Tau-Ken Samruk NMC, JSC and SGS. SGS is theworld’sleadinginspection, verification, testing and certification company with a network of more than 2,000 laboratories around the world.
11 October 2017, CEO of Tau-Ken Samruk NMC JSC M.Turmagambetov met the representatives of SGS Espanola de Control in Tau-Ken Samruk office to discuss cooperation issues within RDC Project realization.
Research and Development Center is planned to be built and accredited based on the international standards and to combine the best global mining and metals practices and achievements.
RDC is supposed to be situated on the territory of Astana Business Campus of Nazarbayev University to implement the instructions of the President “Nation’s Plan – 100 Concrete Steps to realize five institutional reform of the President N.Nazarbayev” program(Step 63 “Development of two innovative clusters as the basis for the knowledge-based economy formation. Astana Business Campus of Nazarbayev University will host research centres and labs for joint R&D and their subsequent commercialization”). A Cooperation Memo and Roadmap for project realization have been signed with the Nazarbayev University.
RDC platform will allow mining enterprises to reduce transportation costs and time for testing, to eliminate the number of permits, significantly accelerate the process of putting new projects into operation from extraction to the end product (concentrate or metal) by performing all kinds of research works within the country. RDC will become a source of talents and ideas, where the country’s young research fellows and students of high schools will gain an experience and be trained.