In order to save electricity consumption when pumping reduced volumes of process water, new pumping units at water and slurry cycle stations were purchased and installed at Central GOK. Investments in the implementation of this project amounted to UAH 6.7 mln. According to the experts, the expected annual savings will reach more than UAH 19 mln.

In order to fulfil production plans with the lowest production costs, in 2023, Central GOK organized the operation of equipment at the most favourable time - at night, during the period of the minimum tariff. During the day, the concentrate production process was suspended and, accordingly, the volume of pumping of process water decreased.

The plant's specialists analysed the electricity consumption and operating modes of the existing pumps of the water and slurry cycle stations and proposed to install new, more energy-saving units of similar capacity at the pumping station of the technical power supply shop and at the slurry pumping station of the slurry shop. For this purpose, an investment project was developed and implemented, the purpose of which was to reduce electricity consumption when pumping reduced volumes of process water.

During the implementation of the project in the technical power supply shop, the specialists replaced the pumping unit, which consumed 1,305 kWh, to a more energy-saving one with a consumption of 500 kWh. And in the slurry shop, a pumping unit was installed on the receiving sump of the slurry pumping station, which uses 385 kWh instead of 800 kWh consumed by the previous equipment.

Four months after the modernisation, the economic effect was fully compensated by the investments involved in its implementation.

"It is very important for us now to ensure the stable operation of the plant, and despite the difficult times, we continue to modernise equipment, implement priority projects and energy-saving measures. This gives us the opportunity to significantly reduce the cost of production and strengthen the company's competitiveness in the world market," said Maksym STRILETS, Head of the Energy Management Department of Central GOK.