Sukhaya Balka mine (Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro region), part of Aleksandr Yaroslavsky’s DCH Group, increased crude iron ore production by 32%, or about 300 thousand tons, in the second quarter of this year.
The mine’s chief engineer, Igor Piltek, told DCH Steel’s corporate newspaper on Thursday that the production is short of workers in key job specialties. Therefore, the mine was forced to stop the technological process at the Frunze mine. The lack of a market for products also had a negative impact.
In addition, Yubileynaya mine is not yet being used to its full capacity, and the workforce is working depending on the situation with product shipments and the availability of qualified personnel.
“However, if we compare the performance of the first and second quarters of this year, we see an increase in production in the second quarter. Crude ore production increased by 32% to about 300 thousand tons, and commercial ore production by 42% (260 thousand tons) (…) This growth is primarily due to an increase in working hours. While at the beginning of the year the company’s team worked a reduced working week, in the second quarter, employees of the leading mining professions (sinking, mining, mine construction) returned to a full working week,” explained the chief engineer.
He also said that after the occupation of Mariupol and the destruction of Sukhoi Balka’s main consumer of ore, the company reoriented to another market: ore is being sold to Western partners, metal producers. The mine’s ore is consumed by steel mills in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Serbia.
“This spring, sales volumes increased, but in the summer, due to the crisis in the steel industry, we are seeing a decline. The shutdown of four blast furnaces at European steel mills reduced the need for raw materials. Sales volumes of the mine’s products decreased. We hope that the situation will improve in September,” said Piltek.
Commenting on the water situation, the chief engineer pointed to the shortage of water after the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. In particular, the lack of water affects the operation of the Central Compressor Station: the unit usually uses about 300 cubic meters of water, but in the current conditions, given the lack of resources, the company has developed a number of measures to reduce consumption. Significant savings have been made at Frunze mine, the industrial site of Yubileynaya mine, and auxiliary units. Water consumption was reduced by 30%.
It is also noted that difficulties with the company’s energy supply are expected in winter, so this year a new powerful generator was installed at Tsentralnaya mine to ensure the withdrawal of miners from the mine in case of a power outage.
“In the near future, we expect to receive five 20 kW generators to create a reserve and meet the needs of surface facilities,” added Piltek.
Sukha Balka mine is one of the leading mining companies in Ukraine. It produces iron ore by underground mining. The mine includes Yubileynaya and Frunze mines. DCH Group acquired the mine from Evraz Group in May 2017.
