NLMK Group, the largest steel producer in Russia and a leading international steel company, has announced that it has begun implementation of high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) technology at its iron ore beneficiation plant at Stoilensky, an open pit iron ore mine. Implementation of this technology, which is new for Russia, enables a 10 percent increase in the production capacity of each modernized section of the plant.
During the first stage of the Stoilensky modernization project, four high pressure grinding rolls will be installed at beneficiation plant sections 1 and 4.
Modernization of section 1 will be completed in 2015, with section 4 modernization scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2016. After stage one is complete, the company will review possible implementation of similar equipment in the remaining sections 2 and 3.
This technology, coupled with other capacity upgrade projects and operational efficiency initiatives, will boost Stoilensky's iron ore concentrate production from the current 15 million mt per year to 17.2 million mt per year by 2017. This increase in captive low-cost material will feed the forthcoming 6 million mt per year pelletizing plant scheduled for launch in 2016.