Northern Iron Ore plays a crucial role in the synergy of Metinvest's Iron Ore in Kryvyi Rih. During almost three years of full-scale war, the largest enterprise among ore mining plants has been working hard to keep production at the highest possible level. Even in extremely difficult times, the plant remains one of the largest employers and taxpayers in the region. Since the beginning of 2024 alone, Northern Iron Ore has paid UAH 2.3 million to the budgets of all levels of the country. Today, the powerful plant is a reliable pillar of support for miners and their families, defenders at the front, soldiers who have returned to their jobs and residents of the local communities close to the city.
The year 2024 brought a number of positive changes to Northern Iron Ore. There is a clear trend of increasing production facilities workload, which was made possible by the stabilisation of technological processes. With the reopening of Odesa ports and the resumption of sea export to traditional markets, production output of iron ore raw materials is also growing. In the summer, the company resumed operations at the Gannivskyi open-pit mine, which by the end of the year was already approaching its 100% capacity. The teams of the shops are working on a monthly basis to reduce the cost of marketable products to strengthen the sustainability of the enterprise and to motivate employees.
Investments in production updating
Even under conditions of a protracted full-scale war in the country, Metinvest is investing in support of ore mining plants. This year, two vacuum pumps were replaced in the Dewatering Area of Ore Beneficiation Plant No 2. of Northern Iron Ore to ensure the quality indicators of concentrate. Equipment for the maintenance and repair of open pits was purchased for the maintenance shop The SB-1 conveyor was replaced at Ore Beneficiation Plant No. 1. The third stage of reconstruction of the existing tailings dump is underway, with the extension of the fencing structures to the maximum + 165 m level. The Railway Transport Department is implementing projects on track re-laying and rebuilding the side contact system In December, we plan to replace oil circuit breakers with sulfur-hexafluoride circuit breaker breakers in the network of shop and substations. All projects of the 2024 investment programme are aimed at upgrading the plant's production facilities to meet annual targets and ensure efficient operation in the future.
For the reliability of machinery and equipment
During the year, a number of important repairs were carried out in the main shops of Northern Iron Ore. In Pellet Shop No. 2, the LURGI 552A induration machine was repaired. The key stage of the large-scale work was the modernization of a double-deck screen for green pellets, which helped to increase the productivity of the induration machine LURGI 552 B induration machine was also shut down for quarterly repairs, during which the specialists replaced the refractory lining of the machine hearth and water cooling elements. They also examined mechanical equipment in the pelletizing, induration, and screening areas. Additionally, the drives were inspected, and repairs were made to the conveyor transports of the machine's technological line. Other key overhauls included those carried out in Mining and Transportation Shop No. 1 on the equipment used to remove ore and rock mass from the Pershotravnevyi open-pit. Railway Transport Department also boasts extensive repairs to locomotives, tracks and switches. Process Water and Slurry Circuit Shop also carried out thorough repairs to some of its equipment.
Employees' lives and safety are at the heart of the matter
The safety of employees' lives and health is a priority for Metinvest, and with the outbreak of the full-scale war, the threat of shelling and destruction has been added to the production risks. That is why Kryvyi Rih enterprises, including Northern Iron Ore, regularly conduct training in first aid treatment and fire-prevention. Thus, the plant has formed special first aid and fire fighting units that monitor the situation in the departments and, if necessary, are ready to help colleagues. Specialists of the fire department of Northern Iron Ore carry out systematic work to prevent, organize, and control the fire situation The enterprise regularly conducts briefings and training for both its employees and contractors. All structural units are provided with primary fire extinguishing equipment. To control and check the serviceability of respiratory protection equipment, the company purchased a Dezega CheckUp device that can automatically check respirators and ventilators.
Every employee is a value and a hope
Veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war and conscripts are returning to subdivisions of Northern Iron Ore. The enterprise is sincerely waiting for each colleague and is ready to help them adapt to the production environment. Metinvest has ensured that our heroes can receive free legal assistance and psychological counselling. There is a preferential admission programme for demobilised soldiers to Metinvest Polytechnic University, which our colleagues have already used this year. Northern Iron Ore also consistently pays great attention to the professional development of its employees. The enterprise has programmes to retrain and upgrade staff skills. To attract and support young workers, the plant has introduced a motivational programme. Anyone who graduated no earlier than 2022 and chose Northern Iron Ore as their first official place of employment is paid a financial incentive of UAH 50,000. Employees of Northern Iron Ore are always open to students of professional universities and vocational schools to visit the industrial sites of the enterprise The plant is looking for new employees, as there will be a lot of work to be done on the way to victory and afterwards to rebuild Ukraine.
Decent conditions for decent work
Improvement of living conditions at work sites where our employees work every day means respecting their work and taking care of everyone. Even the war cannot change this. In June, Northern Iron Ore completed a major renovation of the men's bath and premises of pre-shift rooms in the administrative and amenity complex of the Gannivskyi open-pit mine. The renovation of the premises started even before the outbreak of full-scale war, but despite the unfavourable circumstances, employees of Northern Iron Ore did not give up their plan to make the miners' life decent and comfortable. Major repairs were carried out in the men's dressing room for 280 people, a shower room, a bathroom and a pre-shift room. In total, 3.6 thousand square metres of premises were renovated on a turnkey basis. Major repairs are also underway at the bath complex of the Pellet Shop #2.
Side by side with the community
During the war, Metinvest Northern Iron Ore continues to support the Hleiuvatka territorial community in developing the infrastructure of remote villages. This year, as part of a memorandum of cooperation, the company is helping to improve the surrounding area of an outpatient clinic in one of the community's villages. As part of the work, they have already laid curb stones, and the asphalting of access roads and parking spaces is completed An important part of the project is the arrangement of steps for comfortable and safe access to the medical facility. The plant also joined an initiative to supply residents of the Hleiuvatka community with drinking water free of charge. Another important project this year was the patching and continuous asphalt mix paving of a 4,000 m² road section between the villages of Novoivanivka and Nedaivoda. This year, with the support of Northern Iron Ore, the roofs of the village kindergarten and gymnasium will be reconstructed.
‘I am grateful to every employee of Northern Iron Ore who every day chooses the path of unity, resistance and victory. I sincerely believe that we will go through this difficult period with dignity, eventually strengthening our market position and outlining new European prospects. At all times, no matter what storms raged around us, miners continued to do their job - to work faithfully, responsibly and honestly, taking care of their city, their homes and families. This is what makes the miners' brotherhood so strong, and it only gets stronger in difficult circumstances, uniting around a common goal. Employees of Northern Iron Ore are people of special qualities, strong-willed and professionally honorable, the main value of the plant and the key to its achievements I sincerely wish you all health and well-being. And let the clear, peaceful sky rise over Ukraine," wished Ihor TONEV, CEO of Metinvest Integrated Iron Ore Plant.
