In the spring of 2026, 187 construction workers were busy on a construction site in the Baikaninsky District of Aktobe, Kazakhstan. On this once empty land, a modern cement plant with an annual output of 1.3 million tons is rising. For this region dominated by oil and gas and agriculture, this is one of the largest industrial investment projects in recent years.

The project is jointly constructed by Sinoma Cement Company, a subsidiary of China National Railway Corporation, and Primus Capital of Kazakhstan, with a total investment of 176.9 million US dollars. This is the first strategic project of Chinese cement enterprises in Central Asia, and also the latest achievement of China Kazakhstan capacity cooperation.

Invest 177 million US dollars and complete 75% of the project by 2026

The construction work of QazCem Industries LLP cement plant in Aktobe region has officially started. Ashat Shaharov, the administrative chief of Aktobe region, said at the groundbreaking ceremony, "Today we have launched a large-scale industrial project - a modern cement plant with a production capacity of 1.3 million tons. This is a concrete result of the agreement, reached during the state visit of the President of Kazakhstan to China

The total investment for project construction is 176.9 million US dollars. By the end of 2026, it is planned to bear 75% of the project cost, approximately 132.7 million US dollars. After the factory is put into operation, it will create 250-300 formal job positions, and currently 187 job positions have been created during the construction phase.

The project is implemented in cooperation between Primus Capital of Kazakhstan and Sinoma Cement Company of China, with the support of the Aktobe Regional Government and NC KAZAKH Invest JSC. Sinoma Cement is affiliated with China National Railway Corporation.

Introduce international standards and target the Central Asian market

Sapalbek Tuyakbayev, founder of Primus Capital Holding, said: "The construction project of cement plants in the Aktobe region is a successful result of attracting foreign direct investment and introducing advanced international technology. For Primus Capital, this is not the first project involving foreign partners and international capital. We are collaborating with Sinoma Cement to build a high-tech production facility that meets the best international energy efficiency and environmental safety standards. ”

Zhao Xinjun, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tianshan Materials Company, pointed out that the construction of a cement plant in the Aktobe region is the company's first strategic project in Central Asia. Sinoma Cement President Rong Yakun stated that the company will comply with modern international safety, quality standards, and environmental requirements.

The implementation of this project marks the transformation of Chinese cement enterprises from simply exporting products to exporting production capacity and technology. By localizing production, Chinese enterprises not only avoid trade barriers in the Central Asian market, but also lay the foundation for future participation in infrastructure construction in Kazakhstan and neighboring countries.

Kazakhstan's cement industry enters an expansion period

In 2025, the cement industry in Kazakhstan experienced a transition from stagnation to rapid expansion. The production of Portland cement, excluding white cement, reached 14.4 million tons, an increase of 18% from a year ago, setting an absolute historical high. There is a significant gap compared to the peak of 12.6 million tons before 2021.

Review of project progress: On October 31, 2025, at the 8th Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable, the Ministry of Industry and Construction of Kazakhstan signed an agreement with QazCement Industries to build a cement plant in the Aktobe region.

The commencement of this project coincides with the rising period of infrastructure construction in Central Asian countries. With the gradual release of production capacity, this modern cement plant will not only meet the demand in southern Kazakhstan, but also have the potential to radiate to the surrounding markets in Central Asia. For Chinese companies, this is another substantial step in Central Asian capacity cooperation. Editor/Yang Beihua