Russia-based leading global iron ore and hot briquetted iron producer Metalloinvest has launched the second crushing and conveyor complex at Mikhailovsky GOK in the Kursk region, according to the company’s press release.
With this new complex, built with an investment of RUB 10 billion ($97.2 million), which has a capacity of 35 million mt of iron ore per year, Mikhailovsky GOK will be able to extract up to 50 million mt of iron ore annually. The complex includes four conveyor belts with 2.4 kilometers in length and a belt speed of 5.25 m/s, a crushing and handling unit (CRU), a loading and storage complex, an ore warehouse, a repair section and a transformer substation. Maximum productivity of the new complex will be achieved in stages, reaching full capacity in 2025.
“The transition to conveyor transportation of iron ore is a strategic step in the development of Mikhailovsky GOK. The new system will reduce the environmental impact and the cost of iron ore concentrate by optimizing the transportation scheme. Additional reserves of ore with a high iron content, without using the railways, will be involved in processing,” Oleg Krestinin, CEO of Metalloinvest said.
According to Russian industry and trade minister Anton Alikhanov, the complex represents a new stage in the development of not only the Kursk region, but also the entire Russian mining and metallurgy industry.