Acron Managing Board held an on-site meeting at the Oleniy Ruchey MPC on March 25-26. The meeting, presided over by Acron CEO Ivan Antonov, included a report by TOMS CEO Victor Beloborodov on the progress of engineering work, specifically on fulfilment of the concentration plant construction schedule for 2011 and the quality and volume of work.
Trest-2 CEO Alexander Lozjuk reported on how the general contractor organized construction of MPC facilities. Anatoly Kjamkin, head of NWPC’s Capital Construction Board, provided information on the progress of facilities and infrastructure other than the concentration plant. Electrical supervisor Anatoly Zaika reported on the progress of power objects: the main lowering substation and boiler house will be commissioned in 2011. It was noted that, while seasonal delays have been experienced, all work was on schedule as planned by general designers Giproruda and NIiPI TOMS. Measures were discussed for speeding up the process further. Chairman of the NWPC Board of Directors and Acron Vice President for Mining and Chemical Production Development Sergei Fedorov submitted proposals on further coordination and regulation of work between Acron and NWPC. He also suggested involving new contractors by changing from an early stage scheme with "one facility — one contractor" to an advanced scheme with a mix of contractors at one facility. Acron’s Senior Vice President Vladimir Kunitsky stressed the importance of timely delivery of equipment and supplies for speeding up construction, including concrete, diesel fuel, pipes, building materials and spare parts for equipment. To complete the large volume of concrete work, a long-term contract was signed to deliver 18,000-20,000 tons of high quality concrete through the end of year. Sixteen containers with filtration equipment for apatite and nepheline concentrates are being shipped. To unload and securely store that equipment, it is necessary to build a warehouse at the MPC site as soon as possible.
The meeting’s second day focused on the selection, placement, training and skill enhancement of personnel, as well as catering to the site, transportation and other social issues. The day began with inspection of the management building in the settlement of Koashva, which will soon be ready for commissioning. Deputy CEO for General Issues Sergei Frolov was given the task of developing a scheme to accommodate all NWPC subdivisions in that building and in four other administrative and utility buildings at the MPC site. He was also entrusted with developing a schedule for receiving personnel according to the MPC design and possible catering and passenger transportations options.
The same day, meeting participants visited the Koashva recreation centre and some apartments repaired at Company’s expense. The General Issues department was given a task to create a three-year development concept for the settlement. The development concept will be based on the license agreement and will be aimed at further development of the settlement, where the MPC management, workers and contractors will be accommodated. NWPC also decided to talk with the Kirovsk city administration about the possibility of increasing from 20 to 40 the number of apartments transferred to NWPC in 2011 for repair and occupation.
