One of Russia’s largest mining projects has reached a major milestone in the northern part of Krasnoyarsk Krai. The Chernogorsky Mining and Processing Plant (GOK) has received its first batch of ore. The launch ceremony was attended by representatives of the Presidential Administration, key federal ministries, the regional government, and the state-owned corporation Rostec.
The facility is currently 80% complete. Construction is being carried out by RT-Engineering, a subsidiary of Rostec. Full commissioning is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year. By the end of 2026, Russian Platinum expects to produce its first copper and nickel concentrates containing platinum group metals (PGMs).
Once the plant reaches full capacity, it will process 7–9 million tonnes of ore annually and produce up to 250,000 tonnes of commercial concentrates each year. The project’s resource base extends beyond the Chernogorskoye deposit. In the future, Russian Platinum plans to develop the Norilsk-1 deposit, increasing the plant’s processing capacity to 14 million tonnes of ore per year and enabling annual production of up to 55 tonnes of platinum group metals. The combined mineral reserves are expected to support more than 50 years of continuous operation.
The project’s processing technology is another key highlight. The plant uses a combined gravity-flotation flowsheet for metal recovery. Instead of conventional wet tailings ponds, it employs a dry tailings storage system, significantly reducing environmental risks in the fragile Arctic ecosystem while improving long-term storage safety.
Vladimir Potanin, President of Nornickel, described the launch as the result of close cooperation between the two mining companies. He confirmed that Nornickel will continue supporting Russian Platinum by providing access to its logistics, energy, and marketing infrastructure. The partnership effectively lays the foundation for a new industrial cluster in the Russian Arctic.
The plant’s products will supply a range of high-tech industries, including electronics, aerospace, and shipbuilding.
The Chernogorsky GOK transforms Arctic mineral resources into strategic materials for Russian industry. Backed by government support and strengthened through cooperation with Nornickel, the project is set to become not only a major mining operation but also a key infrastructure hub for the region.
Source: dprom.online
Image: Mikhail Kotyukov
