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As part of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to Japan and his participation in the “Central Asia + Japan” Dialogue Summit, KAZ Minerals signed a number of memoranda of understanding with key Japanese industrial partners — Bridgestone Corporation, Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and Komatsu Central Asia LLP.
All the memoranda were signed on behalf of the KAZ Minerals Group by Andrei Tretyakov, the Group CEO. The signing took place in Tokyo as part of the official business programme of the Summit.
The signed memoranda formalise the parties’ intentions to develop long-term technological and industrial cooperation focused on modernising mining operations, improving operational and environmental efficiency, and expanding the localisation of service and production solutions in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The memorandum of understanding with Bridgestone Corporation provides for joint development of solutions to improve the efficiency of mining equipment, including testing of Bridgestone MasterCore ultra-large tyres and implementing iTrack tyre monitoring system.
The use of next-generation tyres and digital monitoring systems will extend tyre life, reduce replacement frequency, reduce consumption of natural resources and decrease waste volumes and carbon footprint of mining operations. The iTrack system enables real-time monitoring of key tyre parameters during operation, reducing the risk of premature wear and unplanned equipment downtime.
The memorandum of understanding with Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. and Eurasian Machinery LLP is aimed at developing technological and infrastructure solutions to support KAZ Minerals’ sustainability objectives across its operations.
Approximately 30 units of Hitachi equipment, including mining excavators and front-end loaders, are currently in operation at KAZ Minerals’ sites. In 2019, a specialised component rebuild and major equipment overhaul centre was established in Karaganda, supporting disassembly, refurbishment and extending equipment life to near-OEM standards.
The memorandum provides for expansion of this infrastructure, including increased component rebuild capacity, local manufacturing and repair of buckets, truck bodies and high-pressure hoses, and larger inventories of critical spare parts. These measures are aimed at strengthening supply chain resilience, improving delivery reliability and reducing dependence on imported components.
The memorandum of understanding with Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Komatsu Central Asia LLP and KOMEK MACHINERY Kazakhstan LLP focuses on expanding service support and equipment life-extension programmes for Komatsu mining equipment, including the development of the Component Rebuild Centre (CRC) in Astana.
KAZ Minerals currently operates 16 units of Komatsu equipment, including mining haul trucks, crawler bulldozers and underground trucks. In 2025, a ceremony marking the start of construction of a new CRC was held in Astana. The new CRC offer hydraulic cylinder refurbishment, diagnostics, oil analysis services and a wide range of high-technology maintenance operations.
The current floor area of the existing CRC is 1,400 square metres. Under the development plans, the new CRC will add 4,800 square metres by first quarter of 2027, bringing the total CRC floor area to 6,200 square metres. This expansion will significantly increase the number of components refurbished locally and broaden the scope of available services.
Developing the CRC facility will create favourable conditions for the localisation of high-technology service operations, extension of equipment life cycles, and improved supply chain resilience and spare parts availability.
Andrei Tretyakov, Chief Executive Officer, said: “The signed memoranda reflect our systematic approach to building long-term partnerships with leading global manufacturers. For KAZ Minerals, it is important not only to introduce advanced technologies, but also to develop local production and service capabilities in Kazakhstan. Expanding component rebuild centres, modernising our equipment fleet and implementing digital solutions allow us to enhance efficiency and sustainability across our operations, while also supporting national priorities for localisation and reducing import dependence.”
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