Development Stages
Development of the Oleniy Ruchey ore deposit is an ambitious and vital project for the Russian mineral fertilisers industry. Its primary objective is to create a new raw materials base to remedy Russia’s shortage of apatite concentrate. North-Western Phosphorous Company has been working on the Oleniy Ruchey project from the very beginning.
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Administrative area | Kirovsk |
| Catch basin | Umba river |
| Coordinates | 67º 41’ North |
| 34º 12’ East | |
| Subsurface user | North-Western Phosphorous Company |
| Geological-industrial deposit type | Magmatic |
| Ore industrial type | Ijolite-urtit with apatite-nepheline ore body |
In 2006, NWPC won the tender and obtained the license to develop the Oleniy Ruchey deposit. The first stage of development began the following year and included the design for the mining and processing complex and state technical and environmental impact assessment.
At this stage, NWPC carried out design and exploration work in the area of the future opencast mine and the MPC site and obtained industrial ore samples. Simultaneously, all the necessary design and working documentation was prepared. In September 2008, the State Expert Appraisal Central Administrative Board approved the construction project for the Oleniy Ruchey apatite-nepheline ores deposit mining and processing complex. At the end of this first stage, NWPC obtained a building license for the MPC.
The second stage – construction of the MPC – began in December 2008. The industrial and administrative facilities, opencast mine and transport infrastructure were established during this stage, and the necessary equipment was purchased. According to the license agreement, the first MPC commission is planned for 2013. NWPC intends to reduce the construction time and carry out a cold start of the MPC by spring 2012 in order to commence commercial operation as soon as possible.
