President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree awarding the State Prizes of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of science and technology. Among the laureates are representatives of the Kazakhmys Corporation.

The country’s highest state award was conferred upon Yerzhan Ospanov, Doctor of Technical Sciences and Director of the Department for Integrated Technology Development and Investment Planning and Alexander Shakhalov, Head of the Department for Integrated Processing of Technogenic Raw Materials.

The scientists were recognized for their work on the development of an environmentally safe vacuum-thermal technology and the establishment of industrial-scale production of commercial-grade selenium from substandard non-ferrous metallurgical raw materials.

The technology made it possible to establish Kazakhstan’s first industrial production of high-purity technical selenium of the Technical selenium-1 grade. The production facility was set up at the Balkhash industrial site of Kazakhmys Progress LLP in cooperation with researchers from the Institute of Metallurgy and Ore Beneficiation of Satbayev University.

«This award is the result of the efforts of a large team. A scientific idea was brought to life thanks to the specialists of Kazakhmys Progress under the leadership of Marat Ismagulov», - said Yerzhan Ospanov, Director of the Department for Integrated Technology Development and Investment Planning at Kazakhmys Corporation LLP.

The vacuum distillation method ensures a selenium purification level of up to 99.5% without the use of chemical reagents, increasing the product’s value added to 97% of the global market price.

The first batch of technical selenium, totaling 100 tonnes, was shipped in 2025. The product is in demand for the manufacture of solar panels, photocopying equipment, glass, ceramics, as well as medical and chemical products.

The project stands as a successful example of effective cooperation between science and industry, while the award represents recognition of the contribution made by Kazakhstani specialists to the development of world-class innovative technologies.