OREANDA-NEWS. March 07, 2012. Lebedinsky GOK (one of the enterprises of METALLOINVEST, a leading global iron ore and HBI producer based in Russia) [(“LGOK” or “the plant”)] produced 21,765 thousand tonnes of iron ore concentrate in 2011. The record figures achieved for the first time during the plant’s existence were due to the implemented programme of increasing concentrate production.

The production growth has been achieved through increased equipment efficiency and introduction of new technologies.  Specifically, in 2011, as a part of the beneficiation plant reconstruction project, the technological section of the beneficiation shop №3 was upgraded and the mill was replaced with a more efficient mill of a larger size. At the end of 2011, the works on infrastructure upgrade began. At present, installation of an automated hydrocyclone unit and an automated processing control system is being performed, which will allow LGOK to benefit from the reconstruction programme in 2012.

In 2012, the reconstruction of the beneficiation plant will be continued with the replacement of two wet grinding crushing mills. This year, the plans include pre-design works for replacement of the existing transportation schemes for ore delivery from the quarry to the beneficiation plant with a conveyor.

Oleg Mikhailov, Managing Director of Lebedinsky GOK, commented: "2011 will mark the history of Lebedinsky GOK. We have proved to ourselves and others how well we can perform, and that our team has a high potential."

In 2009, LGOK produced 16,040.3 thousand tonnes of iron ore concentrate and, in 2010 – 19,828.8 thousand tonnes.