OREANDA-NEWS. November 23, 2012. Uralkali (LSE, RTS-MICEX: URKA), the world’s leading potash producer, is continuing to develop the Ust-Yayvinsky block at the Verkhnekamskoye deposit. At present, construction works are underway at the site to build temporary facilities for the mine shaft sinking.

The Company is continuing to bore freezing holes in the ditch of skip shaft No. 1.

The head frame foundations have been completed in the ditch of cage shaft No. 2 and the freezing gallery construction is nearly done. Once the head frame foundations have been waterproofed and the freezing gallery concreting is complete, the installation of a boring platform for boring freezing holes will commence.

Work has nearly finished on the construction of a modular temporary administrative and housing building for the mine construction workers. The two-floor building will include changing and briefing rooms, and a lamp room. Deilmann Haniel Schachtostroi personnel will be based there.

The design of above-ground mine facilities will be completed soon.

The mine site infrastructure development is ongoing: roads are being built and a temporary 110/6 kV electric power substation to provide the site with power during the construction period is under construction.

The development of the Ust-Yayvinsky block at the Verkhnekamskoye deposit includes the construction of a new mine comprising two shafts with a capacity of 11 million tonnes of ore per year (2.8 million tonnes ofKCI). The mined orewill be transported by a 6.3 km long cable-belt conveyer to the Berezniki-3 plant for processing. In December 2011, Uralkali signed a contract with Deilmann Haniel Schachtostroi for the shaft construction at Ust-Yayvinsky mine. The contract provides for the development of working documentation, construction of temporary above-ground shaft sinking facilities, shaft sinking and the development of infrastructure.

Uralkali (www.uralkali.com) is one of the world’s largest potash producers with a market share of about 20%. The Company’s assets consist of 5 mines and 7 ore-treatment mills situated in the towns of Berezniki and Solikamsk (Perm Territory, Russia). Uralkali employs ca. 12,500 people (in the main production unit). Uralkali’s shares and GDRs are traded on the RTS-MICEX and LSE, respectively.