Social and Economic research on the Ulmus Besshoky project

As part of the assessment of potential environmental and social impacts of the planned activities of JSC "ULMUS BESSHOKY" for the copper mining project, meetings were held with representatives of local authorities and administration, residents of nearby settlements, and farmers between April 14 and 23, 2025. In particular, interviews were conducted with Arman Bagdatov, Deputy Akim of Aktogay District, and Darkhan Zhiyenbayev, Deputy Akim of Karkaraly District, as well as with akims and aksakals of Aktogay and Karkaraly rural. The field social and economic studies also included:

- conducting focus group discussions in 12 villages located closest to the Besshoky deposit (Berekе, Abay, Ayirtas, Sona in Aktogay District; Saryobaly, Beldeutas, Akbay-Kyzylbay, Akkora, Aynabulak, Tomar, Karagash, Tatan in Karkaraly District),

- conducting expert interviews with representatives of farming households whose land plots might be affected by exploration activities and the upcoming development of the deposit.