The future of science

As part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Kazakhstan National Academy of Natural Sciences (KazNAEN) and the 25th anniversary of the National Center for Integrated Processing of Mineral Raw Materials (NCCPS), the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan is holding an international scientific and practical conference "Innovations in the field of natural sciences as the basis for export-oriented industrialization of Kazakhstan" on April 4-5 in Almaty.

NEW VICTORIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Kanat Baitov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Industrial Development and Industrial Safety, read out greetings to the anniversaries on behalf of Roman Sklyar, Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development. The address emphasized that research teams make a significant contribution to the development of Kazakhstan. And, being at the forefront, they contribute to the industrial and innovative development of the country and the promotion of Kazakhstan's image on the world stage. The innovative technologies being developed by NCCPS scientists include unique technologies for processing osmium concentrate.; The production of Kazakhstansky alloy for deoxidation and modification of steel; processing of gold–bearing raw materials, ensuring the production of every third ton of this precious metal in the country, are now known far abroad.

The scientists of the jubilee organizations were awarded by the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, KazNAEN. The scientific teams were congratulated on the anniversary by the honorary guest of the conference, Anatoly Spitsyn, Vice–President of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (RAS). He noted their invaluable contribution to strengthening cooperation with Russian science in the priority areas of scientific, technological and economic development of the countries. Anatoly Tikhonovich wished them new victories and achievements in achieving their most ambitious plans. And he presented awards of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences to outstanding KazNAEN scientists. The history and justification of the idea of creating the NCPMS was highlighted by the first scientific director of this organization, academician Sultanbek Kozhakhmetov.

Other participants of the international conference expressed their wishes to the research teams. Among them are the heads of divisions of the leading domestic enterprises of the mining and metallurgical industry - Altynalmasa, Kazchrome and others, as well as mining and metallurgical enterprises in China and Turkey. The leadership of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the International Kazakh-Turkish University joined the wishes to develop integration processes between the scientific community and the industrial sector of the country, to form new mechanisms for cooperation between science and business. Khoja Akhmet Yassawi.

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL

President of KazNAEN Nurtai Abykayev and Director General of NCCPS Abdurasul Zharmenov thanked the partners for fruitful cooperation. Scientists and experts devoted two days of the conference to discussing the results of modern research in the field of natural sciences, complex processing of mineral raw materials, innovative developments in the manufacturing sector, implemented within the framework of the Address of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Increasing the welfare of Kazakhstanis: increasing incomes and quality of life", as well as fulfilling the instructions of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Presenting the activities of KazNAEN, Nurtai Abykayev said that their "hobby" is regulatory and legal support for the commercialization of research results and assistance in introducing innovations into production. Therefore, in accordance with the new management model of science and the new Law "On Science", the academy has successfully tested the mechanism for developing and reviewing scientific and technical programs.

It should be noted that KazNAEN is the organizer of the panel sessions of one of the most influential international events, the Astana Economic Forum. The Academy also held the global conference "Energy and Environmental Initiatives of Kazakhstan" within the framework of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, known as RIO+20, where it presented the initiatives of the First President of Kazakhstan: the Global Energy and Environmental Strategy, the Green Bridge Partnership Program and the country's plans for the transition to a green economy. As a result of many years of work in the final document of RIO+20, the goals and objectives of the Global Energy and Environmental Strategy were accepted by the international community for implementation. The ideas of the Strategy were most fully embodied in the UN Sustainable Energy for All initiative. Based on the ideas of the Strategy, with the participation of KazNAEN, the "National Strategy for Sustainable Energy of the Future of Kazakhstan until 2050" was developed.

The next hero of the day, NCCPS, is the largest scientific and production enterprise in Kazakhstan and Central Asia in the field of mining, processing and processing of mineral raw materials. The Director General of the center, Abdurasul Zharmenov, presented at the conference a film about the joint activities of KazNAEN and NCPMS. He stressed that the lead smelting technology modernized by NCCPS scientists and the new unit created for its implementation are protected by patents in many countries, including Kazakhstan, Russia, Australia, the European Union, and Finland. Today, 4 installations are operating using this technology: in Canada, Italy and two more in China, ensuring the release of every 10th ton of primary lead in the world.

An example of the high trust of the NCCPS was the personal instruction of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to create a fundamentally new ferrosilicon aluminum alloy, known today throughout the world as "Kazakhstani". Brazil has already mastered the industrial production of the "Kazakh" alloy used for deoxidation, modification and alloying of steel. In cooperation with Germany's Thyssen Krupp and South Korea's POSCO, the center's scientists are building the first stage of a ferroalloy plant in Tash-Kumyr, Kyrgyzstan. Work on the commercialization of the project is also underway in Iran, and construction of the first stage of the complex alloys plant in Karaganda is beginning. Abdurasul Zharmenov added that all over the world, the "Kazakh" alloy is recognized as the best and cheapest in steel production among the ferroalloys used. The amount of investments in the development of the NCPMS over 25 years of operation has exceeded $ 3.5 billion.

A SUCCESSFUL TANDEM

The largest result of the tandem of NCPMS and KazNAEN should be called the involvement in the production of low-quality lignite ores from the Lisakovsky deposit. Our scientists were the first in the world to obtain a conditioned concentrate from low-quality brown iron ore with an iron content of 65% and phosphorus content of no more than 0.25%. They have developed a technology for smelting high-alloy steel of the X80 strength category, which has already been put into production at ArcelorMittal Temirtau for the subsequent conversion of steel into pipes for oil and gas purposes.

Experts called the long-term cooperation between KazNAEN and NCPMS very successful. This was evidenced by the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of science and technology-2017, which was awarded to the joint "Development of world-class technologies for the involvement in the processing of low-quality (high-phosphorous limestone) and man-made raw materials that increase the competitiveness of steel production, and their commercialization." The scientists of the NCPMS, in collaboration with the academicians of KazNAEN, continue their research, which opens the way to the future of science.

Nurtai Abykayev in his speech recalled that 2019 was declared the Year of Youth in Kazakhstan, and KAZNEN in this regard held the Republican contest of innovative projects "Zhas galim" among young scientists. Nurtai Abykaevich announced the winners of this intellectual competition and presented them with awards.

AUTHOR: Raushan Shulembayeva

Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper, No. 65 (28942), April 5, 2019