Institute History

In March of 1950 by the decision of the USSR Council of Ministers in the center of Rudny Altai - the town of Ust-Kamenogorsk - "All-Union Mining-and-Metallurgical Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals" ("VNIItsvetmet") was found.

VNIItsvetmet basic mission was development of the lead-zinc subindustry of the USSR Ministry of nonferrous metallurgy.

In 1992 the Institute was transformed in the "Eastern Mining-and-Metallurgical Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals" (VNIItsvetmet).

During its formation and development the Institute was staffed with highly qualified technical personnel, who had the experience in conducting research studies, factory tests, adapting new techniques and technologies at existing domestic and foreign enterprises.

9 doctors and 99 candidates of technical science were trained in VNIItsvetmet, 20 specialists won Lenin and State rewards of the USSR and the prizes awarded by the USSR Supreme Council of Ministers; 9 specialists were awarded honorary titles of "Honored metallurgist" and "Honored inventor" of Kazakhstan Republic; 410 inventions were rewarded with gold, silver and bronze medals of the Exhibition of USSR National Economy Achievements.

Institute was included in Kazakh SSR Gold Book of Honor, awarded with "Order of the Labor Red Banner" and Leninsky Honorable Jubilee Certificate.

Almost all the enterprises operating in mining-metallurgical complex of Kazakhstan and CIS countries apply technologies and equipment developed by VNIItsvetmet. The largest among them are: Zhairemskiy, Nikolaevskiy and Shemonaihinskiy pits; Tishinskiy, Orlovskiy and Maleevskiy mines; Leninigorsk (now Ridder), Nikolaevskaya and Zhezkentskaya dressing factories; rare metals and dust collecting departments of UK LZC (now JSC "Kazzinc"); Zhezkazgan Copper Smelter; Almalyk Zinc Plant; the largest in world practice waelz complex for black slag processing at Leninogorsk (now Ridder) Zinc Plant; rare earth department and dust collecting department at Chimkent Lead Plant; department of battery scrap separation at Leninogorsk (now Ridder) Lead Plant; Balkhash Zinc Plant and many other projects.

Method to process sulphide copper-zinc concentrates and different lead-bearing materials - KIVCET process - is developed at VNIItsvetmet. The first industrial plant for copper-zinc concentrates processing was erected in Kazakhstan at Irtysh Copper Smelter; the second plant (for lead-silver concentrates processing) was erected in Bolivia by German company "Klockner Humboldt Wedag AG" (under VNIItsvetmet license) for "Enaf Comibol" Corporation. In 1986 industrial KIVCET complex was erected at lead plant of Ust-Kamenogorsk Lead-Zinc Combine (JSC "Kazzinc"). One year later at Sardinia Island (Italy) in resort area the building of lead plant as per KIVCET technology for "Samim" Company (now Portovesme S.r.l.) was completed.

In 1997 the world's major lead and zinc producer - "Tech Cominco Metals ltd" Company (Canada) erected the most advanced KIVCET plant for lead production through treatment of the charge of complex content (75% of oxidized raw materials). Plants in Canada and Italy were designed by Italian engineering company "Snamprogetti S.r.l." under VNIItsvetmet license.