Kazakhstan is accelerating the digital transformation of its manufacturing sector. As part of a nationwide industrial modernization drive, a pilot project to integrate artificial intelligence into furnace operations has been launched at the Aksu Ferroalloy Plant (JSC TNK Kazchrome, part of Eurasian Resources Group — ERG), the Government Press Service reports.
The initiative focuses on the plant’s core asset — a submerged arc furnace — which is projected to produce over 320,000 tonnes of ferroalloys in 2025, including ferrochrome and ferrosilicon. This output matches last year’s volume but with a 5% gain in energy efficiency, laying the groundwork for AI-driven optimization.
How AI Works on the Smelting Floor:
- Phase One Complete: Over three months, Big Data was collected and analyzed from furnace sensors — tracking temperature, pressure, charge composition, and energy consumption.
- Next Step: An AI-powered recommendation engine is being developed to adjust smelting parameters in real time.
- Targets: Stabilize production, increase output by 8–12%, cut accident rates by 30%, and reduce energy and operational costs.
“AI in metallurgy is no longer a trend — it’s a matter of survival and competitiveness. Global leaders are moving from pilots to sustained, measurable impact. Our approach is pragmatic: sensors → data → models → KPIs,” said Ruslan Eskendirov, Project Lead at ERG’s Research & Engineering Center.
ERG: A National Strategic Asset
Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), 40% owned by the Kazakh state, ranks among the world’s largest producers of ferroalloys, copper, and aluminum, exporting to over 40 countries. Digitalization is central to its 2030 strategy — aimed at reducing carbon emissions and boosting operational performance.
This pilot marks the first of its kind in Central Asia. If successful, the AI system will be scaled across other ERG facilities in Kazakhstan — including Kazakhmys and Aluminum of Kazakhstan — potentially triggering a sector-wide productivity revolution.
Kazakhstan is betting big on “smart manufacturing” — and artificial intelligence is now its most powerful tool for climbing the global industrial value chain.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
Sept. 23, 2025