Northern Mining modernizes roasting machine and increases its productivity

Improved equipment has reduced energy costs and increased productivity to 465 tons per hour

Northern Mining and Processing Plant (Northern Mining), a part of Metinvest Group, has completed a large-scale modernization of equipment at pelletizing shop No. 2. As part of the upgrade program, the specialists modernized the LURGI 552A roasting machine and a two-deck roller screen for raw pellets. This is stated in the press release of Metinvest.Media.

The screen performs an important function – it screens out the smallest class of raw pellets and returns them to the cup pelletizer. As part of the first stage of modernization implemented last year, an upper deck was installed to screen out coarse fines and the rollers were replaced with design rollers. This increased the average hourly productivity of the roasting machine from 460 to 463 tons.

During the last quarterly overhaul in April 2025, 41 smaller rollers with a diameter of 89 mm were installed on the lower screen deck instead of 25 rollers with a diameter of 150 mm. This solution improved the screening of the 0-9 mm fraction by 30% and further increased the machine’s productivity to 465 tons per hour.

“This scope of work has completed the modernization phase of the LURGI 552A roasting machine. We not only increased productivity but also reduced energy consumption – gas consumption was reduced by 100 mcm/h and electricity by 150 kWh. In monetary terms, this will save the plant almost UAH 4 million per year,” said Andriy Stebliy, Deputy Head of Production and Planning.

After losing its steel assets in Mariupol due to the war, Northern Mining refocused on the production of unfluxed pellets, which are in demand in Europe. The modernized equipment ensures the production of high-quality products for European customers, as well as for Zaporizhstal and Kametstal.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Northern Mining plans to invest over UAH 62.5 million in 2025 to modernize the equipment of Mining Transportation Shop No. 1 (MTS-1). Currently, MTC-1 is operating at its maximum capacity of 37-38 dump trucks per shift, which is in line with pre-war levels.