The Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works is completing large-scale reclamation of the Magnitnaya Mountain quarries. In two years, the enterprise returned almost 200 hectares of previously mined land to economic use.
PJSC “Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works” (MMK) continues the program of restoration of territories where it has been carried out for decades production ore. From 2022 to 2024, 192.7 hectares of land were restored on the site of the old quarries of Magnitnaya Mountain, which are now again suitable for economic use.
Work is being carried out simultaneously in three sections of the Agapovskaya industrial site – “Western”, “Eastern” and “Podotvalny”. The “Western” quarry, whose depth reached 300 meters, was closed back in the 1990s. About 169 million tons of special materials were used to fill it. To date, more than half of the field area has been restored – 81.6 hectares. By the end of the year, layers of clay and fertile soil will be laid on an area of 11.8 hectares, which will allow planting to begin. All work is planned to be completed by 2030.
The technical stage of reclamation is underway at the Vostochny quarry. The bottom and sides of the pit have already been strengthened; ahead is the filling of a 160-meter excavation and the final restoration of the natural relief, which will be completed by 2032.
For the Podotvalnoye site, the company chose a different methodology – here it is planned to create an artificial lake, which will become part of the natural landscape. According to MMK ecologists, in 2024 alone, the reclamation rate reached 58.7 hectares. Taking into account the projects of the coal division of the enterprise, the total area of restored land exceeded 630 hectares.
MMK is implementing one of the largest programs in Russia for the environmental restoration of industrial areas. Reclamation of the Magnetic Mountain quarries not only improves the state of the environment, but also creates the basis for further improvement and development of the region.
The material was prepared with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Decade of Science and Technology.
Source: dprom.online
Photo: dprom.online
