Central Mining allocated UAH 6.7 million for energy saving projects

The annual economic effect of the implementation of the investment project is expected at the level of UAH 19 million

The Central Mining and Processing Plant (Central GOK), a part of Metinvest Group, has invested UAH 6.7 million in energy-saving projects. This is stated in a press release by Metinvest.Media.

In order to fulfill production plans with the lowest production costs, in 2023, the Central Mining and Processing Plant organized the operation of equipment at the most favorable time – at night, during the minimum tariff period. During the day, the concentrate production process was suspended and, accordingly, the volume of process water pumping was reduced.

«The plant’s specialists analyzed the electricity consumption and operating modes of the existing pumps of the water-sludge cycle stations and proposed to install new, more economical units of similar performance at the pumping station of the technical power supply shop and at the slurry pumping station of the sludge management shop,» the statement said.

In order to save electricity consumption when pumping reduced volumes of process water, the Central GOK purchased and installed new pumping units at the water-sludge cycle stations.

As part of the project, the specialists replaced a pumping unit that consumed 1305 kWh with a more economical one with a consumption of 500 kWh. And in the sludge management shop, a pumping unit that uses 385 kWh instead of 800 kWh consumed by the previous equipment was installed at the intake sump of the slurry pumping station.

Within four months after the modernization, the economic effect fully compensated for the investment involved in its implementation. Experts estimate that the expected annual savings will reach more than UAH 19 million.

«It is very important for us to ensure the stable operation of the plant, and despite the difficult times, we continue to modernize equipment, implement priority projects and energy saving measures. This gives us the opportunity to significantly reduce production costs and strengthen the company’s competitiveness in the global market,» said Maxim Strilets, Head of Energy Management at Central GOK.

Earlier, Central GOK allocated UAH 4 million to repair the crusher KRD 900/100 at the crushing plant. In addition, in March, the plant completed a major overhaul of the OK-324 roasting machine at the pelletizing plant. The repairs were carried out as part of the pellet production process optimization program.