§ 23. Geography of the economy of the east kazakhstan

In the East Kazakhstan development of the first deposits of nonferrous metals ­ has begun in XVIII century. In the end of XIX century along with ore treating industry here branches on ­ raw materials processing were formed­. In days of the Soviet power building iron and highways, development of minerals, hydropower resources ­ and agricultural grounds were an incitement ­ for transformation of the East Kazakhstan into one of the developed industrial and agricultural areas of the country.

The industry. In region coal-mining open-cast mines ­ of "Karazhyra", "Alakol", "Saikan" operate­.

In the East Kazakhstan 32 kinds of nonferrous metals are extracted, 17 from which are processed on the place. Here all stages of manufacture, since extraction and enrichment of nonferrous metals, reception of lead, zinc, copper, cadmium and other pure ­ metals before manufacture of sulfuric acid at processing of sulphurous gases are carried out­.

The specialised branche is nonferrous metallurgy, especially polymetallic (the lead-zinc industry), making such metals as the titan and the magnesium demanding energy of considerable quantity. Specialisation is connected with presence ­ in region of many kinds of metals, power supply sources and their close arrangement to each other.

The polymetallic industry is the main branch of nonferrous metallurgy­. As a part of polymetals there are various impurities which separate at factories. In the East Kazakhstan such enterprises are Ust-Kamenogorsk lead-zinc, Ridder polymetallic industrial complexes.

The Ust-Kamenogorsk industrial complex is provided by necessary raw materials on 50-60 % as here there is a good raw-material base. Besides, industrial complex development is promoted by the cheap hydroelectric power­, the flat territory convenient for building­, and corresponding transport communications.

The Ridder polymetallic industrial complex working on concentrates ­ of Ridder and Tishinsk deposits and concentrating ­ factories, lets out the cleared lead and zinc which deeper clearing is carried out on Ust Kamenogorsk industrial complex. The pyrite concentrate for reception of sulfuric acid goes then on Taraz superphosphate factory, and copper ­ concentrate - on Ertis copper melting and Taraz factories. On Ertis factory the copper raw materials arrive from Belousov and Verhne-Berezov concentrating factories.

The lead, zinc and copper industry of the East Kazakhstan ­ is under control of corporations "Kazakhzinc" and "Kazahmys". The Zyrjanov lead industrial complex also is the large ­ enterprise of nonferrous metallurgy of the East Kazakhstan.

As a part of polymetallic ore there are large supplies of sulphur in the form of sulphides. At metallurgical fusion from ore sulphurous gas which is raw materials for reception ­ of superphosphate fertilizer is allocated­. Sulphur transportation is unprofitable­, therefore on Ust Kamenogorsk lead-zinc factory­, Ridder polymetallic industrial complex shops on manufacture of sulfuric acid work. Also in Ridder the unique ­ Ulby industrial complex making fuel, i.e. uranium powder for the atomic power station works­.

The East Kazakhstan is important gold mining area of the country­. On region 62 deposits from 141 across Kazakhstan are necessary. On the average current of the river of Kurchum enterprises "Altai", in "Bunasham", on the Suzdal and central-Mukur mines - "Alel" and "Andas-Altyn" are engaged in manufacture of absent-minded gold. In 1998 in territory of the East Kazakhstan it has been extracted from own gold ore deposits of gold of 887 kg.

The general share of the East Kazakhstan on extraction and fusion of colour ­ and valuable metals in indicators of republican scale ­ is that (1997-1998): lead extraction - 66 %, zinc - 75 %, copper - 30 %, gold - 57 %, silver - 36 %; the titan - 100 %, extraction ­ of copper from a concentrate (fusion) - 27 %. On use of natural ­ riches of the East Kazakhstan 173 state ­ licences (the document on the right of conducting any kind of activity­), from them of 46 % - on development of mineral deposits, 29 % - on researches, 25 % - on planning of the further ­ extraction have arrived­­­. Such data speaks about a high share of participation of the East ­ Kazakhstan in development and manufacture of nonferrous metals.

In areas of enrichment and fusion of nonferrous metals a ­ waste in the form of slags (waste heaps) in which the collateral elements not taken completely contain collects­. Using technology ­ of electrothermal and electrochemical manufacture, at processing of a waste it is possible to increase extraction of elements of nonferrous metals­.

Power industry. Nonferrous metallurgy development ­ in area is connected with the hydroelectric power industry which basis makes heat - and hydroelectric power stations. Hydropower resources of the river Ertis and its inflows give the chance to receive 62 billion in kw-h of the electric power a year. However now 15 % of available capacities are only used.

The East Kazakhstan takes a leading place among other economic region of the country on the general capacity of power stations­, by quantity of the developed electric power and extent ­ of electric systems.

On Ertis and its inflows some power stations ­ in the form of cascades are constructed­. Ulby, Verhne-Hajruzov, Tishinsk ­ HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION of average capacity are constructed before the Great Patriotic War­, the next years Ust-Kamenogorsk, Buhtyrma and Shulbi high-power ­ hydroelectric power stations have been installed­. In Ust Kamenogorsk, Semei, Ridder, Zyrjanov are Thermal power stations which work on imported Kuzbass ­ coal. Power stations of the East Kazakhstan in aggregate ­ form the Altai power system which through ­ Rubtsovsk incorporates to Altai territory, and also with the Pavlodar ­ and Aksu power stations.

Machine-building and metal-working industry ­ is connected with nonferrous metallurgy. Ust-Kamenogorsk factory "Vostokmash" makes chisel and load-lifting cars for metal works and concentrating industrial complexes, the ore-mine equipment, etc. It is one of the largest among the similar enterprises in the CIS countries.

Production of Ust-Kamenogorsk condenser factory is applied ­ in the electrical engineer, a railway transportation, building­, agriculture, medicine and mechanical engineering. The instrument-making ­ factory lets out the equipment necessary for power stations. In Semei and Ust Kamenogorsk are steel framework factories, in Semei - factory "Kazakhkabel", in Ust Kamenogorsk - factory of polymeric mechanical engineering.

The industry of building materials. On the basis of local raw materials the industry of building materials for industrial ­ and inhabited building develops­. On Suykbulak raw materials ­ work ­ Semei and Ust-Kamenogorsk cement factories. In Semei there is a factory on release of a silicate brick. In city settlements ­ of region the enterprises for manufacturing ­ of ferro-concrete products, modular designs, large-panel ­ walls, wall blocks and ferro-concrete pipes are located­­.

The East Kazakhstan is the main wood base of the country on which basis are carried out timber cutting, processing and export of forest products in other areas. Wood prepare in valleys of the rivers Buhtyrma, Kurchum, Ulby, Narym and in Belagash steppe. The economic region takes a leading place in republic on wood stocks, timber cuttings and manufacture of saw-timbers. Operating in Ust Kamenogorsk, Ridder, Zyrjanovsk, Semei and Shemonaiha wood processing industrial complexes let out saw-timbers­, household products, window frames and other production ­ made of tree. In Karakozha and Chernovinsk house-building industrial complexes work, the largest furniture industrial complex in republic functions in Ust Kamenogorsk.

Kazakhstan among the CIS countries is the state with insufficient ­ internal waters, including fresh. Industry development has led to pollution of available fresh water sources ­ by a waste of the industrial and household enterprises that breaks biological and hydrochemical modes ­ of some areas. Pollution ­ of waters of Ertis and its inflows by a waste of industrial enterprises Semei, Ust Kamenogorsk and other cities now amplifies­. In this respect - not only in scales of the East Kazakhstan, but also at world level - Ridder is allocated.

Some enterprises located in basin of Ertis, (titanium-magnesium industrial complex, autorepair, condenser factories­, etc.), merge in the river the residual waters containing ions of heavy metals, cyanide, oil products and other harmful substances. The maintenance in waters of the river of oil products in 55 times exceeds maximum permissible concentration (maximum concentration limit), copper - in 160 times, phenol - in 3 times. Sewage Ridder polymetallic, Ertis copper-chemical industrial complexes pollutes also inflows of Ertis - Ulby, Silent Filippovka, Krasnojarka, Glubochanka, etc.

Light industry. In Semei which is the centre of light industry ­ of region, worsted-cloth, cotton-spinning, stocking factories are located. In the East Kazakhstan such branches of light industry as tanning-shoe, fur, preprocessing and spinning of wool, etc are long since developed. In Ridder and Zyrjanovsk work the knitted new machine tools knitted and sewing factories, in Ust Kamenogorsk - industrial complex of silk fabrics.

The food-processing industry. The big role in area is played by the food-processing industry based on local raw materials. The most developed ­ is the meat industry (industrial complexes in Semei­, Ust Kamenogorsk, Ridder, Ajagoz, Zyrjanov and in settlement of city type Priozernyi).

In the northern cattle-breeding areas churn manufacture is developed. In Ust Kamenogorsk there is the largest in republic the churn industrial complex working on a crop of sunflower­, grown up in the given district.

In Semei, Ust Kamenogorsk on local grain the flour-grinding ­ enterprises work­; in many settlements bakeries operate, macaroni and confectionery are made.

Now difficulties of market economy, shortage of raw materials, a lack of means and increase of cost of the electric power constrain development light and the food-processing industry: some enterprises either are completely stopped, or work seasonally, and the former Semei meat-packing plant is supervised by various firms and the companies.

Agriculture. The East Kazakhstan is one of the most developed agricultural areas of the country. The leading ­ place in region agriculture occupies animal industries ­ as here there is a possibility all-the-year-round cattle breeding on steppe and mountain pastures, 80 which % are suitable for agriculture. Such pastures mainly ­ are in the west, in mountain valleys, between mountains Saryarka, Kalby, Tarbagatai and in the southeast of Southern Altai. Irrigated haying meadows settle down in the meadows of the rivers Ertis, Ulby, Buhtyrma and Narym. Crops fodder, grain crops and food-processing industry waste take a leading place in fodder ­ balance of animal industries. On the sizes of the areas of haying grounds (for agriculture) the East Kazakhstan concedes 5 % of the suitable earth to only western Kazakhstan.

Taking into account features of an environment of region the basic branch of animal industries is meat-wool sheep breeding. Sheep breeding is developed at the left coast of Ertis, at bottom of the Altai, Saur-Tarbagatai Mountains, in the Zajsan hollow. Much more poorly is sheep breeding level of development in agricultural Ore Altai and Belagash steppe, at the right coast of Ertis­. In northern and central parts of area prevail thin fleece and half-thin fleece, in southern and south-east - Kazakh ­thick wool and astrakhan sheep breeding directions. In mountain areas thin fleece Angora goats are planted.

Dairy-meat and meat-and-milk directions are developed everywhere­. Irrigated ­ pastures of a right bank of Ertis, the Alpine and subalpine meadows of the Altai Mountains and Tarbagatai, foothills Kalba are convenient for horned cattle cultivation­.

In Ore Altai, foothills Tarbagatai, on the Kalba mountain ­ ridge and in Belagash steppe where mainly lives the ­ Slavic population pig-breeding is widespred.

In region also herd of horse breeding is developed all-the-year-round.

In foothills of Altai, on the southern slope of Tarbagatai where ­ abundance of plants is observed­, are engaged in beekeeping. The East Kazakhstan beekeepers receive 50 % of all ­ honey collected in republic­.

Special branch of animal industries is Siberian deer breeding which ­ is developed in area Katon-Karagai. Antlers of young Siberian deer are medicinal raw materials for reception of pantocrine.

The plant growing concerns one of the major agricultural branches of area. Arable lands basically settle down ­ on the right coast of Ertis, in forest-steppes of the Altai foothills, near to Shemonaiha. On northern slopes of mountain ridges ­ - Kalba and Tarbagatai - arable lands are met seldom. The area of sowing fields of Southern Altai and the Zajsan hollow the small.

In The East Kazakhstan not irrigated agriculture prevails basically. Irrigated agriculture is developed in the south, the southeast and in flat areas - on headwaters of Narym, in Markakol hollow, along Kurchum. For watering of areas under crops ­ waters of Ertis, Kurchum, Narym, Zaisan, Kenderlyk and other small rivers are used.

In agriculture of the East Kazakhstan the leading place occupies grain culture, especially spring wheat crops. The share of winter crops is considerable. On slopes of Tarbagatai where drops out more snow, winter wheat is grown up; on slopes of the Kalba mountain ridge, in high-mountainous parts of Ulby, Buhtyrma, Narym and Tarbagatai - a winter rye.

Among grain crops barley ­ and oats areas under crops are considerable­. Oats as forage for horses are grown up on the top sites of Ulby, Buhtyrma, Narym, barley is cultivated - in high-mountainous areas, in vicinities of Ust Kamenogorsk and Semei. In southern and western droughty areas reap a millet crop, on Altai - buckwheat, in the Zajsan hollow and a number of other areas - corn.

From commercial crops leading places occupy olive, especially sunflower. On region it is necessary over 80 % of crops of sunflower - mainly in Belagash steppe, at bottom ­ of the Kalba mountain ridge and on Ore Altai. In Ust Kamenogorsk it will be placed claster on sunflower-seed oil manufacture­.

Near to industrial centres of Ore Altai and the Kalba mountain ridge where the urban population is as much as possible concentrated­, potato and vegerable-growing economy are located.

Transport complexes. On transport ways of the East Kazakhstan ore, ore concentrates, nonferrous metals­, building materials, grain, wood, coal, liquid fuel, machine and other equipment are transported­. On volume of cargo transportation the first ­ place occupies railway transportation.

Great value the Turkestan-Siberian railway ­ and railway branches have the ­ Lokot - Ust Kamenogorsk - Ridder.

For interrelation and development of economy of internal areas the ­ highway "East ring", located to the east from the railway of Semei - Ajagoz is important­.

After building of Ust-Kamenogorsk and the largest ­ value of Ertis has increased in Kazakhstan Buhtarma water basins in the transport message­. The river way across Ertis is the core not only for the East Kazakhstan, but also for all country.