Kazakh industrial metals giant Kazakhmys saw copper cathode production fall by 7% in 2009 as it suspended four mines to cut costs amid a period of low prices for the red metal.

The company shut down its Akbastau mine in the Karaganda region, which had produced about 13% of ore output in 2008, but ramped up production at its South mine in Zhezkazgan by 59%.

‘At the start of the year we reduced ore output by suspending high cost operations and we anticipated cathode production of 300,000 tonnes,’ said chief executive Oleg Novachuk.

‘The successful focus on operational efficiency and the use of stockpiled material has allowed us to comfortably exceed this target, with final production of 320,000 tonnes.’

He said 2010 ore output would be maintained at similar levels to 2009, with cathode production expected to be just over 300,000 tonnes

In other metals produced by Kazakhmys, zinc in by-product output in 2009 was up by 9% to 149,000 tonnes, silver production was in line with 2008 at 17m tonnes and gold production climbed by 9% to 135,000 tonnes.