Two killed in blast at Kazakhstan’s largest zinc plant, emergency ministry says

MOSCOW, May 5 (Reuters) - ​Two ⁠people were killed ​and five others injured in an ​explosion ‌at the Kazzinc plant, Kazakhstan's ⁠largest zinc production facility ⁠owned by ​Glencore, the company said on Tuesday.

"According to preliminary information, a bang ​occurred ‌while work was being carried out to clean the smoke extractor, followed by ​a fire and the ‌partial collapse of the structure," Kazzinc said in ‌a statement.

The fire caused by the blast has already been ​extinguished, Kazakhstan's emergency ministry said, quoted as ‌saying by Russian Interfax news agency.

Kazzinc, owned by Glencore, is ⁠Kazakhstan's ⁠largest producer of zinc, ‌lead, copper, gold and silver. Kazakhstan's ​state ​fund Samruk-Kazyna holds ‌a 30% stake in the company. (Reporting by Mariya Gordeeva, Editing by Louise Heavens)

Glencore