Title: Enhancing eco-economic efficiency of mineral deposit exploration to achieve sustainable development in the mining industry of Kazakhstan

Authors: Kashamida Tazhibekova; Aigerim Shametova; Abay Urazbekov; Bura Akhmetzhanov; Serik Akenov; Svetlana Tulupova

Addresses: Economics and Management Department, Karaganda State Technical University, Nursultan Nazarbayev Ave., 56, Karaganda, 100027, The Republic of Kazakhstan ' Economics and Management Department, Karaganda State Technical University, Nursultan Nazarbayev Ave., 56, Karaganda, 100027, The Republic of Kazakhstan ' Economics and Management Department, Karaganda State Technical University, Nursultan Nazarbayev Ave., 56, Karaganda, 100027, The Republic of Kazakhstan ' Economics and Management Department, Karaganda State Technical University, Nursultan Nazarbayev Ave., 56, Karaganda, 100027, The Republic of Kazakhstan ' Economics and Management Department, Karaganda State Technical University, Nursultan Nazarbayev Ave., 56, Karaganda, 100027, The Republic of Kazakhstan ' Economics and Management Department, Karaganda State Technical University, Nursultan Nazarbayev Ave., 56, Karaganda, 100027, The Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract: The article aims to study key aspects of sustainable eco-economic improvement of mining companies in Kazakhstan. The study involves ten of the most important companies of Kazakhstan that are engaged in ore extraction and metallurgy. In addition, a plan-do-check-act (PDCA) model to improve functioning of a decoupling-based analysis system was introduced. Despite high positions in a decoupling ranking, companies such as ArcelorMittal Temirtau, Vostochnoye Rudoupravleniye, Zhairem Mining & Processing Plant, and Kazphosphate LLP had plenty of room over the years to grow and reach eco-economic efficiency. The PDCA model enables companies to analyse their eco-economic management system in terms of efficiency, adequacy and feasibility at certain pre-set intervals. ArcelorMittal Temirtau and Kazphosphate tend to reduce their environmental footprints by using their current technical capacities. To improve resource consumption and sustainability of national/regional economy in the future, state and local governments of Kazakhstan should develop a system of instruments to regulate eco-economic activity of mining companies.

Keywords: corporate environmental responsibility; corporate social responsibility; CSR; eco-economic management; efficiency; decoupling factor; model.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2020.113425

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2020 Vol.14 No.3/4, pp.212 - 228

Received: 25 Mar 2020
Accepted: 13 Jul 2020
Published online: 04 Mar 2021 *

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