Enterprise History
of the State Enterprise ‘Eastern Mining and Processing Plant’
1951
On July 24, by the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, on the basis of the mines named after the First of May and Zhovta Rika of the Leninrud trust of the Ministry of Ferrous Metallurgy and some other enterprises, Combine No. 9 was created, also known as p/s 28, and later – the Eastern Mining and Processing Plant. The combine included Mine Administration No. 1 (Kryvyi Rih, First of May district) and Mine Administration No. 2 (Zhovta Rika village).
By the order of the head of the 2nd Main Directorate under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, P.Ya. Antropov, dated 10.08.51 No. 53, the first head of Combine No. 9 was appointed Mykhailo Nesterovych Bondarenko, and Boris Ivanovych Yakushenkov was appointed chief engineer.
On August 31, the exploration with the calculation of reserves of the Pershotravneve and Zhovtorechanske deposits was completed.deposits that were transferred to the 2nd Main Directorate under the Council of Ministers of the USSR. Construction of mines has begun: “Ob’yednana” and “Pivnichna” (RU-1); “Nova” and “Vilkhovska” (RU-2).
1956
The first ore was issued at the “Nova” mine.
1958
A surface complex of the “Nova” mine with a tower headframe was constructed. A Central Research Laboratory was created based on the Central Plant Laboratory of GMZ. A Central Laboratory of Control and Measuring Instruments and Automation (CL CMI&A) was established. A hydrometallurgical plant was built and put into operation.
1965
The first uranium was obtained at the “Devladove” underground leaching site.
1967
In February, Ore Administration No. 2 was established based on the Michurinskoye deposit (Inhul Mine).
1970
In April, the first uranium was received at the Bratske underground leaching site.
Work began at the Severynivske deposit.
1972
A project was developed and work began on the expansion and reconstruction of the GMZ.
In April, RU-3 was created on the basis of the Vatutinske deposit (Smolinska mine)
1976
In June, the reconstruction and expansion of the GMZ was completed, and the plant’s capacity doubled.
The first ore was mined at Mine No. 1 of RU-3.
1984
Construction of the Novokostiantynivskyi mine began.
On February 6, the first phase (SK-42) of the sulfuric acid plant was put into operation.
1989
The first ore was extracted at the Central deposit of the Inhulska mine. In connection with conversion, a decision was made to cease operations at the Novokostiantynivske, Mykhailivske, and Safonivske deposits, as well as the batch (SK-42) of the sulfuric acid plant.
1995
The Novokostiantynivske deposit was transferred to the balance of SkhidGZK.
1999
In April, on the basis of RMZ and CNDL, a scientific and production complex of automation and mechanical engineering (NPC “A&M”) was created.
2001
Water treatment plants at the Inhulska and Smolinska mines were put into operation.
2005
SE “SkhidGZK” became the winner of the Regional Competition of Innovative Technologies in the Mining and Metallurgical Complex for the development and implementation of the project “Technologies of heap and block leaching of uranium ores.”
The NVC “AiM” created a mobile radiometric complex for processing mining production waste dumps.
The energy supply system of the 300 m horizon RE-6 of the Novokostiantynivska mine has been put into operation.
By the decision of the Presidium of the International Personnel Academy dated September 19, 2005, SE “SkhidGZK” was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor for significant achievements in reforming the economy of Ukraine and strengthening the industrial potential of the state.
2007
A new powerful railcar tipper has been put into operation at GMZ.
The extensive reconstruction of the SCC has been completed.
2009
Two gas heat generators-air heaters with automatic control were commissioned at the Smolinska Mine, which completely solved the problem of winter heating of the mine shafts “Main” and “Auxiliary”.
NVC “A&M” was separated from the warehouse of SE “SkhidGZK” as an independent enterprise.
SE “SkhidGZK” participated in the 34th annual symposium of the World Nuclear Association in London, where the general director of SE “SkhidGZK”, O.G. Sorokin, presented a report.
2011
The first phase of the purchased leach heap at the Smolinsky mine has been put into pilot-industrial operation.
A 120-seat household complex has been commissioned at the Novokostiantynivka mine.
In July, pilot-industrial uranium extraction began from block No. 341-1 at the 300 m horizon of the Novokostiantynivske deposit.
The first batch of commercial ore has been ‘mined’ at the Novokostiantynivka mine.
The first uranium from the purchased leach heap of the Smolinsky mine has been accepted for processing at GMZ.
Pilot-industrial operation of a mobile ore sorting complex (MOSC) for processing waste from off-balance ores has started at the Ingulets mine.
2013
At the Smolinska mine, the processing of waste dumps of off-balance ores at the Altaite ore-sorting complex has been completed, followed by land reclamation.
SE ‘SkhidGZK’ has received a license to conduct activities involving the use of sources of ionizing radiation.
2015
At the Novokostiantynivska mine, a hydraulic backfilling complex has been put into operation.
2017
The transfer of the main electric network control panel of SE “SkhidGZK” from the territory of KP “Zhovtovodskteplomerezha” to the network and substation division of the CL KVPiA has been completed. Memorandums on cooperation and partnership have been signed with SC “Nuclear Fuel”, Kropyvnytskyi City Council, Kirovohrad Regional Council, and the Regional State Administration. At the Novokostiantynivska mine, an explosive materials warehouse has been commissioned and a modern crushing complex has been installed. The terms of special permits for subsoil use have been extended for the Inhulsk and Smolinska mines. A mining allotment has been obtained for the further development of the Vatutinske, Michurinske, and Central deposits. A support laboratory has been established within the structure of the CNDL.heap and block leaching. The development of the State Environmental Program for the decommissioning of uranium facilities has begun.
2019
The implementation of measures to modernize the heap leaching site of the Smolinska mine has begun. A long-term contract for the supply of uranium oxide concentrate has been concluded between SE “NAEK Energoatom” and SE “SkhidGZK.” The uranium concentrate produced under the contract will guaranteedly meet the needs of domestic nuclear energy in the volumes of uranium oxide concentrate specified in the contract for the production of fresh nuclear fuel.
1955
A repair and mechanical plant (RMP) was put into operation.
On October 25, by Order No. 793 of the Minister of Medium Machine Building, a decision was approved to construct a hydrometallurgical plant.
1957
The first ore was extracted at the Vilkhivska and Pivnichna mines.
1959
On January 19, the first kilogram of uranium in the form of U3O8 was obtained at the hydrometallurgical plant.
1960
The Central Research Laboratory of Automation (CRLA) was established.
1961
Work began at the Devladivske deposit.
1966
In July, for achieving high performance, the plant was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor. Work has begun at the Bratsk deposit.
1969
Ore mining has begun at the Michurinskoye deposit.
1971
An information and computing center (ICC) has been created.
1975
Work has begun and the first ore has been extracted at the Vatutinsky deposit. The design capacity has been reached at the ‘Pivnichna’ mine RU-2.
1980
In May, work began at the Mykhailivske field.
1987
In November, the second phase of the sulfuric acid plant (SK-46) was put into operation, and the capacity of SKC reached one million tons of sulfuric acid (the largest plant in the USSR).
Due to the adoption of the conversion program, the Severynskoye deposit was transferred to wet conservation mode.
1991
In September, by resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 227, SkhidGZK was subordinated to the Ministry of Machine-Building of the Military-Industrial Complex and Conversion.
1998
The reserves of the Novokostiantynivske deposit have been approved by the State Commission on Mineral Resources of Ukraine. In May, by Resolution No. 306-r, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine subordinated SkhidGZK to the Ministry of Energy.
2000
In June, by order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 256-r, the project for the construction of the Novokostiantynivskyi mine was approved.
2004
The work has been completed and the results of the experiment on heap and block leaching have been summarized; the initial data for the design of industrial plants have been issued. Reconstruction of the SKC has begun.
2006
The work has been completed and the results of the experiment on heap and block leaching have been summarized, and the initial data for the design of industrial plants have been issued. Reconstruction of the SCC has begun.
2008
A long-term contract and an agreement for the supply of uranium oxide concentrate with SE “NAEK Energoatom” have been signed.
SE “SkhidGZK” has become part of the state concern “Nuclear Fuel”.
2010
The underground mining complex facilities at 640m of the Smolinska mine have been commissioned.
SE “SkhidGZK”, as a co-founder, joined the association “Ukrainian Nuclear Forum”.
The Novokostiantynivskyi mine has been returned to the structure of SE “SkhidGZK” as an independent unit, Novokostiantynivska mine.
2012
A surface radiometric control station for dump trucks has been put into operation at the Novokostiantynivska mine.
2014
A new mine-rescue lifting installation (PGS-35) has been mastered at RMZ.
The Dniprodzerzhynsk Chemical Plant has joined the structure of SE “SkhidGZK”.
2016
Received a certificate from the State Export Control Service of Ukraine, which will allow the enterprise to conduct foreign economic activities for the sale of uranium concentrate and hafnium-nickel alloy to foreign consumers.
A special permit for subsoil use was obtained for 20 years to develop the Novokostiantynivske deposit.
One million tons of ore were mined at the Novokostiantynivska mine.
2018
An additional IAEA access was conducted at SE ‘Eastern Mining and Processing Plant’ in accordance with the requirements of Article 4b(i) of the Additional Protocol to the Agreement between Ukraine and the IAEA on the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The second phase of the heap leaching site was put into operation at the Smolino Mine.
A license was obtained for conducting activities related to uranium ore processing, which provides for activities in uranium ore processing, namely the operation of a hydrometallurgical plant, the tailings storage facility in the Shcherbakivska ravine, the heap and block leaching complexes at the enterprise’s mines, the conservation of the long-term tailings storage facility ‘Burial of Brown Iron Ores’, and the cessation of activities of uranium facilities.of the former SC “Prydniprovsk Chemical Plant,” which belong to SE “Barrier” (Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region). A separate division of the NGO “Ukrainian Nuclear Society” has been created on the basis of SE “SkhidGZK.” A certificate has been obtained confirming that KO containers for transporting uranium concentrate meet international and national regulations for the transport of hazardous goods. The implementation of the project “Novokostiantynivska Mine. Development of production capacities” has begun, and an operational headquarters for the overall coordination of the construction of Novokostiantynivska Mine facilities has been created. The implementation of the new IT software complex IT Enterprise has begun.
2021
SE ‘SkhidGZK’ celebrated the 70th anniversary of the enterprise, which, through the labor of many generations, has written the history of domestic uranium mining. Within the framework of the project ‘Novokostiantynivska Mine. Increasing Production Capacity,’ the construction of facilities is being completed and commissioning work has begun for the operation of the ‘Main’ shaft. As part of the project implementation, the mine received the first batch of new mining equipment – three loading and hauling machines have arrived.