The Northern Mining and Processing Plant (Northern GZK, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast), part of the Metinvest Group, has invested 3.5 million UAH in the modernization of pumping equipment, which is expected to pay for itself within a year.
According to the company, as part of its 2025 investment program, a new pump unit was installed at Northern GOK’s Pershotravnevy open-pit mine. Its operation over the past nine months has already yielded significant economic benefits through energy savings.
It is noted that in open-pit iron ore mining operations, pumping equipment is used to remove groundwater from the bottom of the quarry, which prevents flooding, strengthens the slope walls, and ensures safe mining operations. A pumping station is located at the lowest point of the Pershotravnevy Quarry, and its equipment performs these functions.
Last year, due to operational needs to deepen the quarry to a lower level, it became necessary to replace the pumping equipment with a more powerful system. At that time, the station was operating a CNS 300-560 pump. According to its technical specifications, its capacity was 300 cubic meters of water per hour, and it could deliver water to a head of 560 meters, with subsequent transportation to the technical water supply and slurry management facility.
To increase the technical capabilities of the pumping equipment for dewatering the lower ore-bearing horizons, an investment project was approved to purchase a new, more powerful pump. Last fall, the NSSH 315-630 unit was put into operation.
The new pump’s productivity is higher due to its increased flow capacity—up to 315 cubic meters of water per hour—and it is capable of pumping water to the upper horizons at a head of up to 630 m. At the same time, the new equipment’s energy consumption is equal to that of the previous unit. Both units are equipped with 800 kW motors.
“Last year, the company invested 3.5 million UAH in the modernization of the pumping equipment at the Pershotravnevy Quarry. Current energy-saving estimates show that over a full year of operation of the NSSH 315-630 pump, we will achieve an economic benefit that will fully recoup the investment and continue to generate a profit for the plant,” explained Maksym Danilov, head of the Pershotravnevy Quarry at Pivnich GZK.
Pivnichny GZK is part of the Metinvest Group, whose main shareholders are PJSC “System Capital Management” (SCM, Donetsk) (71.24%) and the “Smart-Holding” group of companies (23.76%). The management company of the Metinvest Group is Metinvest Holding LLC.
