During the second year of the full-scale war, investment projects were implemented at the Northern, Central and Ingulets Iron Ore Enrichment Works aimed at ensuring the stability of production processes and overhauling machinery and equipment.
In 2023, Metinvest's Kryvyi Rih mining enterprises invested in projects to increase productivity, product quality, ensure the smooth operation of key equipment, and reduce the cost of producing iron ore. Among the main projects implemented last year at Northern Iron Ore Enrichment Works was the modernization of sections and the installation of a new economical engine on the 2TE10M diesel locomotive, which was involved in the transportation of ore from the Pervomaisk quarry to the first crushing plant. It was also the installation of roller screens of green pellets on the LURGI-552A induration machine to maintain a competitive position in the European market of iron ore raw materials. To ensure compliance with the moisture content in concentrate, a new vacuum filter was installed at ore beneficiation plant #1, and a vacuum pump was replaced at ore beneficiation plant #2.
Last year, an important energy efficiency project was completed at Central Iron Ore Enrichment Works. Pumping equipment was replaced at the facilities of the sludge management facility and technical power supply shops in order to reduce electricity costs. The implementation of the project for the construction of a complex of treatment equipment to provide the plant's facilities with drinking water was also launched. Even in the conditions of war, the Central Iron Ore Enrichment Works continues the program of improving working household. Repairs were carried out in the dining rooms of the Petrovsky quarry, crushing and beneficiation plants. In the amenity building of the crushing plant, the showers were overhauled.
Last year, Ingulets Iron Ore Enrichment Works allocated the bulk of its investments to projects to maintain production capacities, namely to the reconstruction of the tailings storage facility. For the well-coordinated operation of the technological chain for ore extraction and concentrate production, the plant has been preparing additional tanks for storing production residues. Another major project of the year, which will ensure the development of mining operations at Ingulets Iron Ore Enrichment Works, concerned the relaying of railway tracks on the horizons of the quarry and the extension of the railway dead-ends of the quarry and dump.
A significant part of the investments of iron ore enrichment enterprises was allocated to major overhauls of machinery and equipment. To ensure uninterrupted work on the extraction and transportation of rock mass, the enterprises carried out repairs of dump trucks, bulldozers, dump cars, motor-wheelsets, railway tracks and turnouts. At the crushing and beneficiation plants, sections, crushers, dredgers, grab cranes, floors and enclosing structures were overhauled. To maintain pellet production at the required level, LURGI 552 A and LURGI 552 V induration machines were shut down for repairs at Northern Iron Ore Enrichment Works and OK-324 at the pelletizing plant of Central Iron Ore Enrichment Works. At the same time, the enterprises implemented a number of projects on energy saving, organization of a safe workspace, maintenance of infrastructure facilities, etc.
In total, during the past 2023, Kryvyi Rih iron ore enrichment works spent a total of UAH 2.3 bln in investments to maintain production capacity. During the war in 2022-2023, Metinvest Group was recognized as one of the largest Ukrainian investors according to Forbes Ukraine. The company's capital investments during this time amounted to UAH 22.7 billion. Currently, Metinvest's investment strategy is focused on maintaining the operability of the assets.
