Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Phosagro – Phosagro – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Kirovsk (Murmansk Region). December 12, 2025. The first apatite-nepheline ore was mined at the new Rasvumchorr Plateau underground mine of JSC Apatit's Kirovsk branch (PhosAgro Group). The first stage of commissioning at the new Rasvumchorr Plateau underground mine was completed at the Kirovsk branch of JSC Apatit. The first apatite-nepheline ore was mined there in early December.
The decision to build a new mine was made in 2016. Its purpose is to develop underground reserves from the Central Mine, where Apatit miners have extracted over 720 million tons of apatite-nepheline ore in harsh climatic conditions using open-pit mining since 1964.
The full range of design and survey work for the construction of the Rasvumchorr Plateau mine was carried out by the Ya.V. Samoilov Research Institute for Fertilizers and Insectofungicides (PhosAgro Group), the only research institute in Russia specializing in research into phosphate processing technologies and the production of phosphoric and sulfuric acids, phosphorus- and nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers, and the design of chemical, mining, and beneficiation facilities.
Mining operations commenced in 2018. To date, capital mining operations have been completed to construct opening, transport, and ventilation workings at the 430-meter level, covering a total length of approximately 20 km and a volume of excavation exceeding 450,000 cubic meters. The level is fully equipped with utilities, including communication lines, positioning systems, fire-fighting and sprinkler pipelines, high-voltage and low-voltage power lines, and lighting.
"The Rasvumchorr Plateau mine is scheduled to produce 150,000 tons of ore this year. Next year, we'll increase this figure by more than 2.5 times, planning to extract 390,000 tons of ore. The new mine will reach its design capacity of 6 million tons in 2034," says Viktor Melnik, Director of the Mining Department at the Kirov branch of Apatit JSC.
Development work at the Rasvumchorr Plateau mine is currently ongoing. Specifically, shaft development is underway to open the 310-meter horizon. Further work is planned to construct crushing and haulage complex No. 6, with its commissioning scheduled for 2029. Locomotive haulage is scheduled to begin in 2031, and mining of the 310-meter horizon is expected to begin.
PhosAgro's total investment in the mine's construction and equipment will exceed 38 billion rubles.
"Developing the ore and raw material base of the Apatit Mining and Processing Plant is a key focus of PhosAgro's investment policy. We annually utilize up to a third of the company's investment budget, and the results of this work are annually reflected in our production results. This year, we have already set records for daily and monthly shipments of finished products, and by the end of the year, we plan to produce the largest volume of apatite concentrate since the post-Soviet era," emphasized Andrey Abrashitov, Director of the Kirov branch of Apatit JSC.
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