Miners Perish at Kostenko Mine: Ten Convicted of Related Crimes
In a tragic turn of events, an explosion at the Kostenko mine in Kazakhstan on October 28, 2023, claimed the lives of 46 miners and injured 28. The incident, which occurred in October 2023, has had far-reaching consequences, leading to criminal convictions and government action.
The investigation revealed that the explosion was the result of systemic safety rule violations across multiple managerial and engineering areas. Specifically, there were failures in managing ventilation, dust and explosion protection, conveyor transport safety, and general engineering and safety oversight. These violations led to unsafe working conditions, culminating in the deadly explosion.
Ten senior managers and engineering staff, including the mine director, deputy chief engineers, heads of ventilation, safety, dust and explosion protection, conveyor transport, and mechanical departments, were convicted under Part 3 of Article 277 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code for violating safety regulations that caused deaths. The mine director received the maximum sentence of 8 years in prison, with others sentenced to 5 to 7 years depending on their roles in the safety breakdowns.
The officials were held accountable for not enforcing or maintaining proper safety standards, which likely involved inadequate ventilation to prevent gas accumulation, poor explosion and dust control measures, and unsafe conveyor transportation systems inside the mine. The mine, owned by ArcelorMittal Temirtau JSC at the time, has faced public criticism over its safety practices in Kazakhstan’s coal sector.
Following the Kostenko mine explosion, the government decided to transfer the steel company owned by ArcelorMittal Temirtau JSC to state ownership. The defendant in the case of the Kostenko mine explosion still does not understand the cause of the explosion, two years after the incident.
To date, 74 people have been officially recognized as victims in the Kostenko mine accident case. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to safety regulations in the mining industry.
The tragedy at the Kostenko mine, a case of poor adherence to safety regulations in the mining industry, led to the conviction of ten senior managers and engineering staff under Kazakhstan's Criminal Code. The government has since taken action, transferring the mine's steel company to state ownership as a response to the fatal accident.
