On July 3, 1960 the first and only blast furnace in all of the Central Asia and Kazakhstan was launched. That date was the birthday of Kazakhstan Magnitka - the Karaganda Metallurgical Plant. The young metallurgist Nazarbayev together with experienced craftsmen took part in first Kazakhstan cast iron smelting.
At “Karmet” he mastered several other related professions: he worked as a foundry worker of casting machines, blast-furnace keeper, operator, gas watchman of the blast furnace. The work was very hard, because of the terrible heat and tension some workers fainted and had bleeding nose. Many workers could not stand and left. But Nazarbayev was not like them, he swore to himself that he would survive, and he stood, got used, got involved into the work. He together with his comrades - Tulegen Yusupov, Bulat Karimov and others, overcame all difficulties and became highly skilled metallurgists.
Twenty-year-old Nursultan sent half of his considerable salary of the blast-furnace keeper for his father, who carefully spent money on younger children.
As an advanced Kazakh worker and Komsomol member, Nazarbayev was often sent to the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League congresses and youth festivals. He became famous; a photograph of the foremost worker Nazarbayev appeared even in the central press. Among his colleagues at work, the young metallurgist was highly respected, so after joining the party he soon became the party organizer of the workshop.
In those years, another important event occurred in his life. As Nursultan Abishevich wrote later, “the most memorable day of those years was my first meeting with my future wife Sara. And this meeting took place ... near the blast furnace, after the accident. When an accident occurs and the metal is spilled on the ground, the shift does not leave until it restores rail traffic. Such a firm order: at least a day, at least more, but deal with your own flaws. It was at such an unpleasant moment - almost a day on their feet, in soot, smoked, only eyes and teeth glittered - and I met a girl who was on duty at an electrical substation that night and came to see what was going on under our furnace ... But soon a Komsomol youth wedding was arranged for us.”
A happy young family grew rapidly, their daughters were born - Dariga, Dinara, and later Aliya.
Upon arrival in Temirtau started the "fire" stage in a working life of Nursultan Nazarbayev.
But young spouses also grew professionally. In the direction of the plant, Nazarbayev, along with several guys from his workshop, enters the Karaganda Polytechnic Institute. There, he was enrolled in the group LP-62-2 (foundry production of ferrous and non-ferrous metals), which was formed from applicants living in Temirtau.
In those years, in technical colleges, an experiment was conducted combining training with working in production. This helped to master the practical side of the future specialty, although it was very difficult to work while studying at the institute. So, they studied the first course, and the next two courses were purely "student", with a break from production with all the necessary attributes of real student life - tests, sessions, laboratory works. These were the years of further thorough education of Nursultan Nazarbayev.
N.A. Nazarbayev studied at the Karaganda Polytechnic Institute for 3 years, after which he was transferred to the newly organized Karaganda Metallurgical Combine ("Plant VTUZ") in Temirtau, which he graduated with a diploma in metallurgical engineering.
Following him, his wife, Sara Alpysovna Nazarbayeva, received a degree in economics in 1967, having graduated from the technical college at "Karmet".
Nursultan Nazarbayev got new perspectives. His desire to be a leader, the ability to captivate people and lead them were noticed and appreciated. From 1969, he agrees to accept the proposed party and Komsomol work in Temirtau, which has become almost his native town.
At first, he was not very happy with this proposal - he was saddened by the significant loss in salary and the interruption of the “hot experience”. But the rigid party discipline requires that and his friends-metallurgists blessed him for leadership position.
After some time, he became involved in this important work. It turned out that to live in the midst of people, their interests and hobbies, to direct and organize their activities - Nazarbayev always had it in his genes.
Later, many people who worked with him again and again noted his amazing memory for people and the events of their lives, his constant desire to comprehend and find out everything, get to the bottom of the essence, listen carefully and understand the companion.
As Nursultan Nazarbayev recalls himself, he did not have overestimated ambitions, he did not feel any particular passion for leadership positions. But from a young age a self-esteem was formed, which did not allow to remain in the "average level", the habit of being always the first. As a leader and organizer, he gradually gained experience in dealing with a variety of people - from workshop managers to ministers.
In the direction of the plant, Nazarbayev, along with several guys from his workshop, enters the Karaganda Polytechnic Institute.