PhosAgro completes construction of Yuksporsky tunnel at Kirovsk mine

KIROVSK, RUSSIA: PhosAgro, a leading global vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producer, has completed the construction of the second Yuksporsky tunnel at Apatit’s Kirovsk mine, Russia. The combined Kirovsky mine is Apatit’s largest by production volumes and one of the biggest in Europe. The introduction of new levels will increase the production capacity from the current 11 million tonne of apatite-nepheline ore a year to 14 million.

The project is part of an investment programme to modernise and update PhosAgro’s fixed assets and to reduce costs by introducing the latest equipment at the Group’s enterprises. The Yuksporsky tunnel has great significance for the development of the Kirovsk mine and for Apatit’s entire mineral resource base. In parallel with the construction of the tunnel, compressed-air and process-water systems and fire-fighting pipelines were installed.

“The ore mined at the Kirovsk mine was previously sent for further processing along the first Yuksporsky tunnel. To increase volumes of ore brought out of the combined Kirovsky mine by rail, four years ago the PhosAgro AG management company adopted a resolution to lay down a second Yuksporsky tunnel running parallel to the first one. The large-scale project started in 2009. This is a unique structure and was a particularly difficult engineering project. The work was carried out by mining engineers from the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Construction Management No 30 from Bashkortostan,” said Mikhail Rybnikov, CEO, PhosAgro AG.

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