OREANDA-NEWS. Within six months Mezhdurechensk MCC and Valki-Ilmenite have produced 94 K tons of ilmenite concentrate.

For the 6 months of 2016, two MCCs, that are a part of the Group DF titanium business, – Mezhdurechensk MCC and Valki-Ilmenite, have released 93.6K tons of ilmenite concentrate.

The total sales volume by two MCCs for the six months of 2016 amounted to UAH 150 million. The amount of taxes paid by Mezhdurechensk MCC and Valki-Ilmenite, respectively, was UAH 16,1 and 7,6 million.

“The production volumes depend solely on the demand from the ilmenite buyers and on the contracts. Comparing to the previous year, there is a slight decrease in production volumes. Our business logic is simple: we are interested to produce as much raw material as needed and do not want to produce for stock, although some stocks we always have. There is a business sense to produce products as much as it will be bought and processed. Products in stock are  ‘frozen’ funds, the Head of Valki-Ilmenite and Mezhdurechensk plant Ivan Bondar said. – Further production growth will depend solely on market conditions. We are ready to increase production volumes; we have everything possible for it.”

In 2015, Mezhdurechensk Mining and Concentration plant has produced 158.9 K tons of ilmenite concentrate, sold 155.5 K tons of products. (In monetary terms – for UAH 234,07 million), and the amount of taxes paid amounted to UAH 42,9 million.

The total investments of Group DF in two MCCs is over UAH 330.8 million. Investments in Mezhdurechensk MCC amounted to over UAH 207 million, and in Valki-Ilmenite – UAH 123.8 million.

Maximum design capacity of Mezhdurechensk MCC is 200 K tons of ilmenite concentrate per year, and Valki-Ilmenite – 65 K tons.

The mining direction of Group DF titanium business includes two mining and processing enterprises – Mezhdurechensk MCC and Valki-Ilmenite. Beside these, Group DF is also investing in the construction of two new plants – Stremigorodsk MCC (Zhytomyr region) and Motronovsk MCC (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The invesments in the Motronovsk MCC project have already exceeded $115.7 million. According to preliminary calculations, the company will be able to produce over 120 K tons of ilmenite concentrate annually, 14 K tons of zirconium and 20 K tons of rutile concentrate.

Investments in Stremigorodsk MCC has already exceeded UAH 76 million. Currently the design and survey works are being held. After the first phase of the project, the design capacity of the plant will be about 500 K tons / yr of ilmenite concentrate and 150-200 K tons / year of phosphate rock.

Currently 475 people work at Mezhdurechensk Mining and Concentration Complex and Valki-Ilmenite.