A sulfuric acid plant, the first stage of EuroChem's large-scale chemical complex, has been launched in the Zhambyl region
Zhambyl region, May 26, 2026. A ceremony was held at the EuroChem-Karatau production site in the Sarysu district of the Zhambyl region to mark the launch of a sulfuric acid plant with a capacity of 800,000 tons per year. This event marked the completion of the first stage of the second phase of one of Kazakhstan's largest industrial projects, with a total investment of up to $1 billion. The project is being implemented with the assistance of KAZAKH INVEST NC JSC.
The ceremony was attended by Yerbol Karashukeyev, Akim of the Zhambyl Region; Yersaiyn Nagaspayev, Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Nurgazy Anuarbek, Managing Director of KAZAKH INVEST NC; Igor Akhmerov, General Director of EuroChem PMU LLC; Igor Georgiadi, General Director of EuroChem-Karatau LLC; and representatives of government agencies, the business community, and international organizations.
The project's history spans nearly two decades. Initiated in 2008, it has evolved from the initial geological surveys to a fully-fledged chemical production facility. Development of the Karatau phosphorite deposit began in 2012, and the mining plant—the first stage of the project — was commissioned in 2016. The intergovernmental agreement on the implementation of the second stage was ratified by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in January 2022, after which construction of the chemical plant immediately began. Today's launch of the sulfuric acid production facility is the first stage of this large-scale project. The general EPC contractor was CNCEC, a leading Chinese engineering company specializing in chemical projects.
A distinctive feature of the project is the use of environmentally friendly technologies. Unlike traditional phosphorus production, which produces phosphogypsum, EuroChem's technology involves the production of calcium chloride and synthetic gypsum — products in demand in construction, the agro-industrial complex, and other sectors of the economy
Construction and installation work for the second stage of the plant is underway at all production facilities and is 72% complete. Commissioning is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. Once fully operational, the plant will produce up to 1 million tons of products annually, including dicalcium phosphate (200,000 tons), potassium sulfate (260,000 tons), calcium chloride (130,000 tons), and synthetic gypsum (320,000 tons).
The project's implementation is having a significant impact on the socioeconomic development of the Zhambyl region. EuroChem currently employs over 1,000 people, with service and outsourcing companies providing approximately 300 additional jobs. Up to 2,000 people are currently involved in the active construction phase. Once the complex is fully operational, at least 1,200 new permanent jobs will be created.
By the end of 2025, phosphate production volume will reach 890,000 tons, valued at 17 billion tenge, and in the first four months of 2026, approximately 345,000 tons of the product will be produced, valued at 8 billion tenge.
