UrBC, Yekaterinburg, November 14, 2018. EVRAZ Holding is now working to reconstruct its Tashtagol Iron Ore Mine. The goal is to make the holding more self-reliant in terms of raw stuffs supply through raising its iron ore output by 1.5 times (from 2.2m tons up to 3.25m tons a year). The project requires around RUR 6.8bn in investments, EVRAZ Holding’s press service reports.

‘Sibiryak Skip Shaft will get involved to deliver the necessary materials into and the iron ore out of the mine. Besides, a special underground crushing plant will get installed at 350 meters under the ground. Tashtagol Iron Ore Mine relies on two different mining technologies: the conventional one called block caving (in fact, most of the mine’s reserves have already been prepared for this particular technique) and the more innovative one called sublevel caving¬-and-filling, where self-propelled appliances are needed. The latter technique is expected to boost labor productivity at every stage of production and to cut the prime cost of the produce. This is, in fact, the same technique that Sheregesh Ore Mine relies on as well,’ the press service says.

EVRAZ also intends to have its active stowing unit reconstructed, which will double its current output capacity. Scheduled for upgrades and improvements are also the water treatment plant and the mine’s office building.

The preliminary engineering surveys of the prospective construction sites and the expert examination of the buildings and facilities have by now been completed, as has the mining exploration of the iron ore deposit’s Zapadny section. The mine opening at 350 meters under the ground has been fully inspected, so workers are now busy preparing for the launch of the new mining technique at the deposit’s Vostochny section.

The mine is scheduled to launch the new technology in the second half of 2019.