Russia’s Sverdlovsk Region is set to gain a major new gold mining operation. Polymetal is building a gold processing plant in Nizhnyaya Salda that will process 3 million tonnes of ore annually and produce up to 5 tonnes of gold per year. The project has already been granted the status of a Regional Investment Project, making it eligible for significant tax incentives.
The gold processing plant is scheduled to begin operations in 2029. Ore will be supplied from three Ural deposits: Maminskoye, Pavlovskoye, and Pershinskoye. The facility will employ the modern Carbon-in-Pulp (CIP) process, in which activated carbon is used to recover gold directly from the ore slurry.
Environmental performance has been a key consideration in the project design. The plant will operate with a closed-loop water recycling system, while processing residues will be stored as semi-dry tailings. Compared with conventional wet tailings storage facilities, this approach significantly reduces environmental impact.
At the same time, Saldinskaya Gold Mining Company, a subsidiary of Polymetal, has officially received Regional Investment Project status. This designation provides access to substantial tax benefits and strengthens the project’s long-term economic viability.
Polymetal and the Government of Sverdlovsk Region have already signed a cooperation agreement. Under its terms, the company will invest more than RUB 6 billion in regional investment, social, and infrastructure projects through 2033. The initiative extends beyond the processing plant itself to include roads, utilities, and support for local communities.
The new facility near Nizhnyaya Salda represents more than just a mining project—it is a comprehensive partnership between business and regional authorities. The investor receives tax incentives and access to a secure ore base, while the region gains new jobs, upgraded infrastructure, and billions of rubles in long-term social investment.
Source: Gold and Technologies
Image: Polymetal
