IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF COMPANY AGARAK COPPER-MOLYBDENUM COMBINE IN ARMENIA WILL BE INVESTED $18-22 MILLION

ArmInfo
2010-03-05 17:34:00

ArmInfo. The tentative cost of the project of reconstruction privately
held company "Agarak copper-molybdenum combine" in Armenia (AMMK),
calculated for 2-3 years, composes $18-22 of mln. This, in the
interview for ArmInfo correspondent reported Sergey Ropeyko, chief
project engineer, developed by Russian project company Mekhanobr
Engineering. According to him, by the international company of
GeoProMining, into structure of which enters the company Agarak
copper-molybdenum combine last year was ordered Technical Economic
Assessment of reconstruction and studied the entire complex of the
measures, which must lead to reduction in prime cost and return
on the production produced. It noted that the investments will
be directed toward the reconstruction of the concentrating plant
of the combine and toward the building of the new building of the
main building of factory. Collocutor reported that the flotation
equipment at the factory will be completely substituted, which is
exploited from the 60’s. "Machines are old, although partially
they were modernized, spare parts changed, but, in the essence,
they have not been changed completely. Equipment works unstably and
it leads to the frequent stoppages", said S.Ropeyko. It is planned
to replace crushing equipments, floto-park Chief project engineer
added that the main building of factory also is in lamentable state
and they made a decision to construct the new building of flotation,
which subsequently can serve for the development of enterprise. In the
new building it is planned to place new additional capacities and to
ensure a rise in productivity. Specialist noted, after reconstruction
the indices on the extraction of copper and molybdenum will grow by
2%, what will lead from one side to a rise in productivity, and with
another – to a reduction in the prime cost of production. Essential
success is planned to achieve, also, on the part of the ecology,
collocutor added. In particular, aspiration systems for the purpose
of decrease of the quantity of dust will be substituted, will be
installed contemporary indozators of the reagents, which will exclude
the leakage of poisonous substances in the work places. Besides
this, on the new flotation equipment is installed a more effective
ventilation system, which will ensure the best working conditions,
chief engineer noted. He certified, that half of entire flotation
equipment are already in the warehouses of the combine and today
satisfy all necessary technical requirements of flotation. S. Ropeyko
reported that in this stage Mekhanobr Engineering is on the initial
stage of the development of the design, whose delivery to customer is
outlined in August – September 2010. The periods of the realization
of project will be tentatively 1-3 years. From an economic point of
view, the reconstruction will make it possible to increase the design
volumes of output and ore processing from the present 3 mln. tons
to 3,5 mln. tons per year. However, these design capacities can be
substantially increased in the long-term outlook. The building of the
new main housing of factory will make it possible to place new power
equipments in the liberated old building of flotation. With the start
of the second turn of flotation repartition, it is possible to attain
output and processing of 6 mln. tons of ore per year, collocutor said.

Let us note that Mekhanobr Engineering was created on the base of the
design and scientific parts of the institute Mekhanobr in December
1990 and has a 90-year experience of activity, which was specialized
in development of technologies and planning of 250 ore-dressing
enterprises in the territory of Russia, CIS and other states. By the
projects of Mekhanobr Engineering were constructed Agarak copper-
molybdenum combine and Zangezur copper-molybdenum combine in Armenia,
and also Madneuli in Georgia. At present the company works on the
projects of mining companies Norilsk nickel, Severstal.

The group of the companies of GeoProMining acquired the shares
of Agarak copper-molybdenum combine in December 2007. GeoProMining
specializes in the output, the enrichment of polymetallic ores (copper,
molybdenum, antimony and precious metals (gold, silver).

Company has a diversified structure of production and markets for
sale. Deposits and processing plants of company are located in Armenia,
Georgia and Russia and in Vietnam.