Russian company to build its third manufacturing site in Kazakhstan

Russian producer of construction materials Technonikol has launched the construction of a $124.5 million manufacturing site in Kazakhstan. The new plant in the Saran industrial zone 20 kilometers from the city of Karaganda is expected to produce stone wool and will enter into operation in April 2026, according to a statement by the company.

This is going to be the third Technonikol manufacturing site in Kazakhstan as the company is already building its two isolation material manufacturing facilities in the Almaty region.

«The opening of the third plant in Kazakhstan is the next stage of our business development strategy designed to strengthen our positions in Central Asia. Kazakhstan is experiencing rapid economic growth and rising domestic demand for construction materials. Moreover, given that Kazakhstan is located at the intersection of trading routes between Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, China and Mongolia, we have great opportunities to expand our exports,» said Sergey Kolesnikov, co-owner of Technonikol.

The new plant will produce stone wool for thermal and sound isolation of roofs, façades, floors and internal partitions in residential, public and industrial buildings. The material can also be used as a shield for sandwich panels and technical isolation.

The company plans to supply 70% of its products from the new plant to Kazakhstani companies, while the remaining 30% will be exported to neighboring countries. Once the new plant is commissioned, it will create 180 new jobs at the plant itself and about 1,500 jobs in contracting organizations that will serve the manufacturing site.

«All paperwork regarding land acquisition is underway. We have already started project design work and hired key specialists. Some engineering and equipment contracts have been signed. Pre-construction activities and land work are scheduled for the end of this year,» noted Vasily Tkachev, an executive manager of the company.

Technonikol is one of the biggest producers of roofing, hydro isolation and thermal shielding materials in Russia.

The company was founded in 1992 by Sergey Kolesnikov and Igor Rybakov, who possess a fortune of $1.4 billion each. In May 2023, Poland imposed sanctions against the businessmen due to their business interests in key economic sectors, including oil refining.

In October 2023, Technonikol sold its two manufacturing sites in the U.K. and announced litigation around its plant in Poland. The company has no intention of selling its assets in Lithuania, Germany and Italy. Even though these factories are “fully autonomous, they are still in operation,” the company noted.

In March 2024, Technonikol said it would triple its investments in stone wool manufacturing in Russia and Kazakhstan.