Yet 28 people have died and 18 are still missing in a mine fire in Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported on Saturday – Reuters
ArcelorMittal Temirtau (MT.LU), the local unit of the Luxembourg-based steelmaker, said 206 of the 252 people at the Kostenko mine were evacuated after a methane explosion.
Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev, who expressed condolences to the families of the victims and declared 29 October a national day of mourning, ordered his cabinet to halt investment cooperation with ArcelorMittal Temirtau.
ArcelorMittal can also confirm, as communicated earlier today by the government of Kazakhstan, that the two parties have been in discussions concerning the future of ArcelorMittal Temirtau and recently signed a preliminary agreement for a transaction that will transfer ownership to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the miner said.
“ArcelorMittal is committed to completing this transaction as soon as possible in order to minimise disruption to the greatest extent possible.”
Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar told reporters that the cabinet was dissatisfied with ArcelorMittal’s failure to honour its investment commitments, modernise equipment and ensure worker safety after a series of fatal accidents.
