Kazakhstan inks wheat processing facility deal

Hopefull Grain & Oil Group, a China-based agribusiness, plans to invest $1.5 billion to build a deep wheat processing facility in the Akmola Region of Kazakhstan.

Marat Akhmetzhanov, governor of the Akmola Region, and Shi Kerong, chairman of the board for Hopefull Grain & Oil, signed a strategic framework agreement for the two-stage project during the Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable on Oct. 31.

The facility will produce high value-added products such as citric acid, glucose-fructose syrups, bioethanol, and protein-rich feed concentrates, the governor’s office said in its Nov. 5 announcement.

“This is the second deep-processing grain project in the region implemented under the direction of the head of state, which will allow the production of high value-added products and strengthen the region’s industrial potential,” Akhmetzhanov said.

Stage one of the project involves the construction of a combined heat and power plant to provide environmentally friendly energy, ensuring a stable power supply for the factory and creating infrastructure to support the rapidly growing Astana agglomeration.

The second stage includes building a high-tech grain processing plant using modern clean technologies with minimal environmental impact.

The project is expected to drive industrial and agro-industrial development in the region, increase Kazakhstan’s export potential, create hundreds of jobs and enhance national food security. A timeline for the project was not provided.

Hopefull Grain & Oil is an integrated agribusiness involved in the trade, storage and transportation of grain and oil. Its primary business is grain and oil processing, with several large plants in China. The company also has established international trade companies in countries such as the United States, Brazil and Argentina.

Tags: wheat, value-added products, invest, processing facility, China, Kazakhstan, Production