Said Sultanov Biography

It is undoubtedly that Kazakhstan is "a celebrated country by God." Its subsoil is contained in the form of oil, gas, coal, rare metals ... However, it is well known, which is now actively mastered that it is opened in the Soviet years. Domestic exploration, devoid of serious financing for a long time, was in a difficult crisis. In recent years, despite the drop in hydrocarbons and ore prices, a fracture has been outlined in the industry.

A new generation of Kazakhstan geologists, armed with knowledge of the best world universities and seeking in search of new discoveries, came here to apply the latest technologies. In an exclusive interview with ABCTV. The exhaustion of old large deposits caused a threat to production stopping at factories, which was why the issue of increasing the mineral resource base arose acutely.

This became the problem of not only private companies, but the entire state. Judge for yourself, such a state of affairs can lead to a reduction in thousands of jobs, especially in single -industry towns. And no memorandums will be able to save them. In our opinion, now it's time to conduct exploration using new technologies and solutions. Therefore, having united with the strong world foreign Skytem -Venni, Ground Probe -Australia, Asahi Diamond -Japan, Diasgeophysical -Canada, Tromino -Italia and Russian partners, decided to create their own company, which will be “sharpened” on the transference of technology and investment in the mining sector Kazakhstan.

On the first of December of the year, we opened our company and called it "Aurora Minerals Group" "Au" in the Mendeleev table means "gold". Our goal is to make useful for the country and society, using the latest technologies not in words, but in practice. And these are not just slogans. How not to get lost in this variety? In addition, we teach our young employees on innovative equipment so that they become high -class specialists and transmit knowledge further.

My partners and I-Kaisar Kozhamuratov, Kent Ballas, were leaders, top managers in their structures, had good, productive indicators in work. But we wanted something more, to reach the next level. And life itself brought us to a new road. By the time of the creation of "Aurora Minerals Group", each of us already had experience in the industry, we knew how "bright" and "dark" of its parties, we could compare and compare, analyze and develop alternative options for the development of certain processes.

In a word, we were ready to independently create a business that brings satisfaction, first of all, in a professional plan. And at the same time, we strove to feel freely and liberated, not depend on someone’s whims, and not to take transactions with conscience. Only then start -up capital and communication. It is easy to come to Kazakhstan thanks to a visa-free regime with many countries, it is easy to open a business without leaving home, through E-GOV, spend a lot of money on office rental and chic furniture.

It’s not easy to conduct your business, and even more so, to make it profitable and independent of public procurement and a floating course. Sometimes even success carries “disadvantages”. So, in the midst of flights, when you catch every fine day, questions arise that have a clearly “man -made” character ... - do you mean “sticks into the wheels”, competitors do not doze? We will deal with this later.

But in fact, we now and then have problems, the solution of which is spent by precious time the work of a seasonal geologist - approx. But, despite the obstacles, we do not stop there, we overcome them, and move on. The main thing is that we develop and go forward, step by step. Are there any results? Firstly, we performed more than 40 linear km aerogeophysics. This is the largest volume in the Kazakhstan market.

Secondly, we are conducting a large transplant project "turnkey" for the subsequent placement of IPO on the Stock Exchange in Toronto. Third, on geological franchising, we have brought a number of technological companies on the market of Kazakhstan: the Danish aeroheophysical company SkyTem, which represents electromagnetic technologies in 3D, Italian company Tromino, producers of passive seismic sensors, Canadian geophysical company Diasgeophysical, Australian The manufacturer of radars of stability of the slopes of GroundProbe and the manufacturer of spare parts for ASAHIDIAMOND drilling units.

In addition, by order of private investors, our company consisted of a consultant in the registration of subsoil use and the preparation of technical projects approved by state bodies. As a result of our activities, more than 30 people received work. At the moment, we have already completed most of the work, and the end of the field season is nearing, at the same time, on the golden project, we conduct SkyTEM electromagnetic aeroheophysics and plan to carry out drilling operations.

The company also conducts analytical work by order of local companies that are going to participate in auctions for subsoil use rights.In parallel, we are working with large subsoil users on the use of Ground Probe radars to monitor the stability of slopes in Kazakhstan. Recently, we sent two radars to the Russian Federation, where they pay more attention to preventing quarries.

We hope that soon in Kazakhstan our careers will be checked by the radar of Ground Probe, which will save the life of our miners and prevent the rolls of slopes. Now, just, the ideal time for exploration. Successful investors understand that in order to make a profit, you need to buy "cheap" and sell "for expensive." In our case, there is a place of control, that is, it is profitable to conduct exploration, when the price is lower, so that by the time of its growth, we had a ready -made and profitable product.

We think that the market for raw materials groped for the bottom, and now there will only be a rise, which will undoubtedly affect the development of Kazakhstan and our company, in particular. How did you form your team? What is the attitude of the expanses to Kazakhstan? Our company is successful largely thanks to a professional team. And I am proud that we managed to collect such a friendly and qualified international team.

And it is worth noting, despite the fact that we do not have the highest salaries, getting to us is not so simple. Our main criterion is decency. Each employee is obliged to be responsible for his words and actions, to be honest in front of himself and colleagues. Secondly, he should be a professional in his field, focused on an effective result and at the same time positive.

Thirdly, he should be a trainee and always strive for professional growth. Everyone knows English in our team, perfectly speak information technologies, and young geologists also know how to work with the equipment of our technological partners. Our business partner Kent Balas has long been more Kazakh than the Australian. He likes our culture, food, he loves to work in Astana, but to relax in Almaty.

But, like a real geologist, he works in the most remote and inaccessible sections of Kazakhstan. He knows how our people live. He is very depressed by the fact that in Kazakhstani business everyone strives for a monopoly, while in Australia everyone is working to increase the market through competition. A big plus have an expansion in the team: he tries to do everything correctly, efficiently, safely and efficiently.

Kent instills all these qualities and skills in the work of our local geologists. At the same time, there are a number of wishes and recommendations. In my opinion, the state should finally switch to a market economy and completely get rid of the quasi -state sector by privatization. Why feed hundreds of ineffective national companies to feed the budget? It is better to give everything to a competitive environment, of course, with the exception of strategic objects.

Competition is also beneficial for the consumer, because he receives quality goods at the best price. I think, as soon as this happens, the level of bureaucracy will decrease significantly, because the market will require quick and effective solutions. Secondly, the principle and law of "Yellowpages" was adopted, but in reality the law is lame. For example, in Aerogeophysics in Kazakhstan there are three large groups - two private and one quasi -state.

The state through national companies gives out contracts to its affiliated "daughter", which, by the way, has much higher prices, while there are neither equipment nor staff. While large subsoil users are selected by two other private companies. Because business needs a high -quality product at the optimal price and a controlled contractor who can be forced to work.

Thirdly, it is necessary to increase the financing of exploration on new technologies in order to ensure industrialization, we need a mineral resource base. Although earlier the budget for exploration was increased, the devaluation of tenge introduced its adjustments not for the better. In - fourth, in my opinion, it is necessary to create or modify the existing information system on which it will be possible to buy geological information, as well as immediately issue the rights of subsoil use.

The easier it will be to obtain geological information and issue the right of subsoil use, the faster we will have uniiors similar to Canada and Australia. In - fifths, the Code "On Subsoil and Subsoil Use" should be held by public hearings with all interested parties, given the best world practice and be accepted in parliament in the year. I am sure that I express the general opinion of the current generation of geologists working in Kazakhstan: open, pragmatic, understandable and fair rules that are uniform for everyone and for all should be established in the industry.

Kulpash Konyrov.