Project development

2008

The design for the Oleniy Ruchey mine was completed and submitted for approval to the State Expert Review Board (Glavgosekspertiza of Russia) in June. It was approved on 30 September, and the construction permit for the mine was issued on 24 October.

Trial tests with the beneficiation of apatite-nepheline ore extracted from the Oleniy Ruchey deposit were initiated, and the first trial lots of apatite and nepheline concentrates were received. Tests confirmed the possibility of producing high-quality apatite and nepheline concentrates using a closed water circulation system. This technology would provide sustainable water consumption and reduce the use of reagents.

In October, NWPC purchased several former kindergarten buildings in Koashva by auction and renovated them to house the mine management office. NWPC started building the external motorway and a road to connect the construction site with the Oleniy Ruchey open pit mine, as well as assembling the administrative building.

2007

Design development of the new mine began. An expedition from NWPC and the Kola Mine Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences visited the deposit to consider a possible route for the temporary road and to choose the locations where adits would be driven into the ore body.

The new road enabled exploration, prospecting and construction work at the future mine site. The first blasting operations at the Oleniy Ruchey site returned 1,500 tonnes of sample technological ore needed for research.

In September, a commemorative sign marking the beginning of the new deposit’s development was installed at the mine site, and an official ceremony was held to mark the occasion.

2006

NWPC contracted with Giproruda, a leading institute specializing in the design of mining enterprises, to prepare a technical and economic feasibility study for extracting and processing apatite-nepheline ore deposits located at Oleniy Ruchey and Partomchorr. On 12 October 2006, NWPC won the license for the right to mine these deposits.

2005

North-Western Phosphorous Company was founded by Acron on 12 August 2005 to create a new phosphate raw material base in Murmansk region. The first presentation on NWPC took place in October in Moscow. The federal and regional government representatives, scientists, and developers who took part in the presentation all supported the idea of constructing a new mine in Murmansk region to address a number of issues, including Russia’s apatite concentrate shortage, de-monopolisation of the domestic markets for apatite and nepheline concentrates, job creation, regional investment, and increased tax revenue.