JSC "Dolomite" must increase the efficiency of using extracted resources – A. Kosinets

May 6, Vitebsk / Sergey Kotovets - BELTA /. Dolomite OJSC must use mined minerals and resources as efficiently as possible. This was stated today by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, during a visit to the enterprise, according to a BELTA correspondent. The company mines about 4 million tons of dolomite per year with explored reserves of over 700 million tons, and the conditions for developing mineral resources are complicated by the need to transship significant volumes of soil. At the same time, extracted resources, such as clay and water, are practically not used. The enterprise needs to expand the range of dolomite products manufactured in the shortest possible time, as well as work out issues of involving associated resources into circulation, the chairman of the regional executive committee noted. The main problem of Dolomite remains the technological backwardness of production. "In a couple of years, we may have a completely unpromising enterprise," the governor said. Therefore, the developed program for modernization and re-equipment of OJSC until 2015 must be adjusted and implemented in the next two years. The main emphasis should be placed on updating technologies and quarry equipment, and mastering the production of high-tech products. The mined resources allow, in addition to dolomite flour, to produce burnt dolomite for the metallurgical industry and raw materials for glass production. It is also necessary to work out the possibility of producing magnesium cement from dolomite. "To free up a layer of dolomite from under the ground, today we have to remove a layer of clay up to 36 m, so why not study the possibility of producing bricks from it," Alexander Kosinets believes. At the same time, for traditional products, it is necessary to actively search for sales markets, including abroad, he added. Another tool for increasing production efficiency and reducing energy costs should be a mini-hydroelectric power station. It will operate on groundwater, which is discharged into the Western Dvina. The enterprise has developed a project for the construction of such a station with an annual capacity of 6 million kWh and a cost of about $4 million. The commissioning of the station will reduce energy consumption by half and, accordingly, reduce the cost of production. The project needs to be finalized taking into account today's realities and the implementation should begin by the end of the year, the chairman of the regional executive committee demanded. The enterprise was founded in 1931 and specializes in the production of dolomite flour, limestone flour, dolomite filler, mineral powder, and crushed stone of all fractions. The raw material base for the enterprise includes dolomite deposits near Vitebsk with explored reserves of 739 million tons.