ASTANA. June 30. KAZINFORM /Kanat Kulshmanov/ Kazakhstan can become one of the world's largest gold producers by 2015. Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has made it public at the first Kazakhstan International Congress on Mineral Resources and Metallurgy in Astana today.

He pointed out that by 2015 Kazakhstan could produce 70 tons of gold a year. "Reaching this level Kazakhstan can become one of the world's largest gold producers. Besides, the President noted that within the framework of the Industrialization Program the steel production output is planned to be increased by 10 million tons per year, ferrochrome - 440 000 tons, aluminum - 250 000 tons per year.